As we come to the end of 2024, we want to say a huge thank you to all of Solent Mind’s fabulous supporters who’ve been raising money for us throughout the year.

Whether it’s taking on a challenge, organising a charity event, or running a bake sale, there are many ways people have been showing their support, and our heartfelt thanks go to each and every one of them. All the funds raised go towards supporting mental health in our communities, and we’re very grateful.

Among these amazing efforts was Matt Green from Southampton, who took on a charity bicycle challenge in France and raised £1,250 for Solent Mind. Organised by Challenge Adventure Charities, the cycle event saw Matt and 3 of his friends ride 561 miles in relay around the coast of Brittany. 

“We take on a cycling challenge every year, and this year, we chose to raise money for Solent Mind,” said Matt. “The ride was tough going, as we battled through wind and rain, but knowing we were raising money for such a worthwhile cause made it all worth it.” 

Also peddling for Solent Mind was Joel Kirby from Portsmouth. Joel joined a team of 18 cyclists to ride a 4 ferries cycle route between Portsmouth Harbour and the Isle of Wight (65 miles in total) and raised £1,190. 

He said: “We know a lot of people who are struggling with their mental health, so we wanted to take on a crazy challenge for a local charity which is doing all it can to help. It’s been a pleasure to hand over the money we raised to Solent Mind.”

Continuing the support for us in October were 17 charity runners who signed up to take part in Portsmouth’s Great South Run. Unfortunately, the event was cancelled because of bad weather, but that didn’t stop our supporters raising money for us. Among them was Sophia Doughty and her family, who raised more than £6,000 in memory of Sophia’s dad, Jonny, who died by suicide at just 43 years old. 

Reflecting on the fundraiser, Sophia said: “My dad lived life to the fullest, with a big smile on his face, but his story highlights how even the strongest, healthiest, and happiest people can have their mental wellness severely compromised - without warning and without prior history. Although the Great South Run was cancelled, we still wanted to support Solent Mind in memory of our amazing dad.”

And the fundraising didn’t stop there. In November, a particularly ‘hair-raising’ challenge brought together a group of Southampton pub-goers who grew moustaches for ‘Movember’ in support of Solent Mind. Russell Ship, landlord of The Stile Inn, along with five of his regular customers, avoided shaving for an entire month, raising more than £450. 

Russell, who has owned the pub on Shirley High Street, along with his wife Clara, for nearly two years, said: “Solent Mind are doing incredible things for mental health in the local area, and one of our regulars has benefited from its services. We wanted to give something back and chose Movember to do it. We all had some wonderful moustaches by the end of the month.”

These are just a few of the inspiring individuals who have been fundraising for us in 2024. To everyone out there raising money for Solent Mind, we want to say a big thank you – your support makes a huge difference.

If you would like to take on a fundraising challenge in 2025 in aid of Solent Mind, you can find out more at: solentmind.org.uk/support-us/fundraising/challenge