Hinckley & Rugby Building Society leads sponsorship of LAMP’s 5K challenge

Hinckley & Rugby Building Society has once again pledged to lead the support for Lamp’s annual fundraising efforts which this year involves a journey into outer space!

Following the success of the ‘Around the World’ 5k challenge in 2021, the charity has set the target of a ‘Trip to the Moon’. Lamp (Leicestershire Action for Mental Health Project) is encouraging people to cover 5k or more through physical activity such as walking, running, cycling, roller-skating or swimming, to collectively reach 384,400km – the distance from the Earth to the moon – and raise £1 for each km covered. Participants can take on any activity they like such as swimming, rowing, walking the dog, competing in a triathlon or even completing an activity in fancy dress during Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs 9 – 15 May.

The charity has seen an increased demand for its services since the pandemic, including for access to its helpline and advocacy services, so is encouraging people to get active while they fundraise. Physical exercise has a range of benefits for the mind, body and soul, and through sponsorships and donations for the ‘Trip to the Moon’ 5K challenge, Lamp hopes to raise money to help more people in need.

At Hinckley & Rugby Building Society, there’s a strong focus on looking after mental health, with its wellbeing and mental health committee meeting regularly to discuss new ways of supporting staff. Employees are also given access to regular wellbeing catch ups if they would like them and has mental health first-aiders on hand to support colleagues if they need it. With this in mind, the Society’s Chief Executive Colin Fyfe was happy to support the charity’s fundraising efforts.

“The staff at Hinckley & Rugby Building Society are delighted to once again put our best feet forward in support of Lamp and its ambitious plans to take a journey through outer space, with fundraisers from the Society collaborating to reach the moon and back to raise money for the charity. The Covid-19 pandemic threw light on the plight of those people who suffer from loneliness and this initiative offers a way for people to release endorphins through exercise and mixing with friends and family, as well as supporting a local, independent charity which is committed to helping people to navigate the complex mental health maze.”

Richard Kotulecki, Lamp’s CEO added:

“I am delighted that Hinckley & Rugby Building Society has once again partnered with Lamp as the Headline Sponsor for the Lamp 5k challenge. Engagement with local businesses is a huge part of our work at Lamp as we continue to raise awareness of the mental health challenges people face, and of the help available to them from Lamp and from other organisations. That way, when people need the help, they know where to turn. Partnerships like this one are an essential part of doing this. As well as raising awareness and funds for Lamp, the Lamp 5K is in itself a useful tool for supporting mental health. To Hinckley & Rugby supporting the community is much more than donations and sponsorships. They recognise that the most valuable asset is their people, with society staff members actively involved in volunteering and fundraising. Almost 50 members of Society staff took part in Lamp’s Around The World 5K challenge last year and we are looking forward to seeing how many support the Trip to the Moon in 2022.”

Lamp’s inaugural 5k initiative in 2021 raised over £8,000, which generated much-needed funds to support the charity’s service users and carers with mental health advocacy throughout Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and saw thousands of people locally, nationally and internationally take part.

Lamp is an independent mental health charity providing free community mental health advocacy for people living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, as well as Carers Advocacy for people in these areas.

To see how you can take part in Lamp’s 2022 5k Trip to the Moon challenge, click here.