The local mental health charity, Mid and North East Essex Mind, is calling upon fun runners to sign-up for this year’s 10K Stampede at Colchester Zoo on Sunday 28th April from 9-11am.
The Stampede has become a fun annual event where runners get the chance to run, jog or walk past the elephants, giraffes and zebras at Colchester Zoo. The fundraising run also winds around the nearby villages and countryside before finishing back at the zoo.
Ginny Idehen, CEO, Mid and North East Essex Mind, is keen to promote the Stampede and get runners signed-up to support mental wellbeing. She said: “We all know we need to move more for our general fitness, but exercise also helps us release happy hormones, which is great for our mental health.”
The Stampede takes place at the Zoo as it also supports Colchester Zoo’s charity, ‘Action for the Wild’. The charity helps to fund conservation projects across the world including its 6,000-hectare UmPhafa private nature reserve in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Colchester Zoo is as a 2023 Travellers’ Choice award winner placing the Zoo among the top 10% of all listed on Tripadvisor globally.
Ginny continued: “We’re calling upon fun runners to support their local Mind charity, not only to boost their wellbeing, but also to help us raise vital funds for the mental health services we offer whilst also assisting Action for the Wild’s supported conservation projects.”
Mid and North East Essex Mind offers a wide range of mental health services for adults and young people. The charity provides group and one-to-one counselling, support for those recovering from addiction or a mental health issue, plus practical help to overcome stress, anxiety and depression. The organisation also offers a crisis café for urgent mental health care.
Lee Mullan, 48, is part of Mid and North East Essex Mind’s ‘Lived Experience Panel’ and will be running the Stampede to thank the charity for the support they’ve provided him. He says: “Mid and North East Essex Mind has really helped me, I’ve used their Personality Peer Support Group, as well as using their help service. I’m so grateful for all the work they do and want to raise as much money as I can for such a worthy cause.”
He continued: “Physical fitness is so important for your mental wellbeing. Signing up to this run will really help motivate me to keep active, which will help support my mental health. I’d encourage everyone to sign-up to the Stampede!”
To take part in the Stampede, runners need to pay just £17. Once they’ve raised £50, they will receive a free wildlife-themed Mid and North East Essex Mind runners’ vest. Each participant will also receive a commemorative medal, chip timing, free event photos and an invite to a post-run drinks reception. After the event, runners can enjoy a free day out at Colchester Zoo.
To sign up to the Stampede on behalf of Mid and North East Essex Mind, visit https://mnessexmind.org/get-involved/fundraise.
