Trip to the Moon 5k challenge to raise funds for mental health advocacy services

Lamp (Leicestershire Action for Mental Health Project) has launched its major Lamp 5k fundraising campaign for 2022. This year’s Lamp 5k has a ‘Trip to the Moon’ theme and will take place from 9 to 15 May 2022, as part of Mental Health Awareness Week.

With the Trip to the Moon challenge, Lamp is encouraging people to take part in a 5k or more physical activity such as walking, running, cycling, or roller-skating, to collectively reach 384,400km, the distance from the Earth to the moon, and raise money for each km covered, aiming for a total of £38,440. Participants can take on any activity they like including swimming, rowing, walking the dog, competing in a triathlon or even completing an activity in fancy dress during Mental Health Awareness Week.

Lamp’s inaugural 5k initiative in 2021 raised over £8,000 to support the charity’s service users and carers with mental health advocacy throughout Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

To see how you can take part in Lamp’s 2022 5k Trip to the Moon challenge, visit www.lampadvocacy.co.uk/lamp5k, log your 5km and download a fundraising pack. If you would like to sponsor, fundraise or get involved in other ways, please contact the charity at info@lampdirect.org.uk or sign up to LAMP’s newsletter at www.lampadvocacy.co.uk/news-letter-signup/ to get regular updates.

Richard Kotulecki, Lamp’s CEO said: “We’re very excited about organising our 5k Trip to the Moon challenge for Mental Health Awareness Week. We are aiming to bring the community together again in a creative way by inviting and inspiring the people of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to power up, get fit and put one foot in front of the other in an effort to improve their mental wellbeing.

“We firmly believe in the benefits of physical activity which serve as a shield against the harmful effects of the pandemic on our mental health and wellbeing and this is why we set up the Lamp 5k campaign. With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have seen a huge surge in demand for mental health advice and support.

“In addition, our 5k fundraiser ties in with this year’s theme for Mental Health Awareness Week which is loneliness. The theme has been set by the Mental Health Foundation which found that loneliness has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. A study by the Foundation revealed that loneliness has been an important factor contributing to higher levels of distress, resulting from people’s sense of isolation and reduced ability to connect with others.

“For this reason, we encourage you to join with us in the 5k Trip to the Moon challenge to get outdoors and exercise. Plus, it isn’t just the exercise which will help – engaging in the challenge with friends and family members will enable you to nurture supportive and meaningful relationships – all of which, can contribute to positive mental health.”

Colin Fyfe, Chief Executive at Hinckley & Rugby Building Society added: “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 and independent charity which is committed to helping people from Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to navigate the complex mental health maze.”

Sponsors and event partners for this year’s Lamp 5k include: H&R BS, DLT Roofing Ltd, Property Fox, 1st Choice Health & Safety, Empire Finance, Pattersons Commercial Law, Barrett, Smith & Brown, Finance Lab, Cite, HSP, Kazoo IT, Michael Hill Partnership, Vehicle Consulting, Torr Waterfield, Steven Mather Solicitor, Brooks & Co, Purple House Clinic, Cross Productions, One Creative, Pete Martin Photography, Holistic Family Mediation, Sandstar Communications, Imperial Roofing, Rutland House, JD Alpha Services, Sarah Higgins Corporate Coaching, Trident, CBA Recovery and Hollingsworths Solicitors.

Last year’s Lamp 5k initiative saw thousands of people locally, nationally and internationally taking part. In addition to many independent participants, around 1,500 people joined the dedicated Strava running group from all over the world, as far away as Russia, Vietnam and India. The aim was to cover enough distance to travel around the world once and this was not only achieved, but doubled by the end of the week.

As a result of the success of last year’s Lamp 5k Around the World initiative, the campaign won the Community Event of the Year Award in the 2021 Leicestershire Community Champions Awards.