Thank you from CPSL Mind
Ian hopes that the completion of his walking challenge will prompt companies and individuals to start the discussion about mental health in their workplaces and homes, a hope shared by CPSL Mind’s Fundraising and Communications Manager Gary Sutcliffe.

“We are so grateful to Ian for everything that he has achieved over the last few months. His sheer determination and commitment to support CPSL Mind and to support his local community continues to astound us and we can’t express our thanks and gratitude enough for all his hard work.” said Gary.


Read more via the link here
lmind.org.uk/ian-darler-walking-challenge-for-mental-health/

If you would like to support Ian’s walk please visit his just giving page.

Visit the CPSL Mind fundraising page to start your fundraising journey with CPSL Mind.

London to Berlin  walk , Diary week commencing 1st June 2024

The walk is progressing and 468 miles have been completed leaving 210 miles to go before the 14th July. Read more below the photo of those taking part in the public walk

Photo courtesy of CPSL Mind
 
The public walk on Sunday 26th May went well with 20 people in total on the walk. We started at the Cledara Abbey Stadium and walked along the Chisholm trail to the river Cam from there we made our way to the village of Horningsea and the church before returning to the Stadium.
The walk was led by good friend Trevor George who used to be the local police officer for that area some years ago. We set off with the sun shining but by the time we reached Horningsea the heavens opened and we all had a soaking despite sheltering in the hedge rows.

Luckily the rain did not dampen anyone’s spirits and the conversations were flowing amongst us all.  People were very honest and it was inspiring to hear how many of us go to great lengths supporting family, friends and loved ones, but to also fully appreciate how draining this can be for those people.

Every time CCFR have been involved with a mental health fund raising project we have had several public walks for each event and it has provided an opportunity for those attending to speak about mental health openly.  This was again the case on Sunday with those who joined me on the walk and I believe this is a very positive thing.
 
The donations have again continued to come in with the total now at £3,000 and I would like to say ‘Thank You’ to each and every person for their support and in many cases their very kind words they have left alongside the donation as I know how personal some of these messages are and it really does mean a lot, I found some to be quite emotional.

The BIG FISH OFF was mentioned in my previous diary and on the radio show with Kev Lawence at Radio Cambridgeshire.  It has really taken off with all the media coverage, which in turn has generated a number of pledges from several companies.

Thanks to the companies below for the BIG Fish Off sponsorship.

C B Groundworks, Kevin Johnson
A.R.Aspinall & Son, Andrew Aspinall & Terry Carman
D.C Carpets, David Coughlin
Rocketworld.Co.UK, Gary Ingerson

I really do now feel under pressure to catch a good net of fish as quite simply I know every pound of fish will generate more funds and help CPSL Mind to deliver a mental health service within the community.

Whilst talking about the BIG FISH OFF I must also say a special thanks to Freddie Sandford from the Angling Times who has very kindly agreed to mention the BIG FISH OFF in the support of CPSL MIND within the paper and on social media.

Walking, exercise, and fishing are a great way to help improve your mood and mental health so it feels fitting that the fishing challenge will increase donations to the total money raised from the walk.  There will be a separate diary on the BIG FISH OFF once the event has taken place.

Further support has come in this week from The Grounds management Association (GMA) who have very kindly agreed to cover the walk with a Q & A plus a possible offer of the story in the form of an editorial later in the year. Thanks to Karen Maxwell for her support with this and all at the GMA.

Peter Houghton at the Football Safety Officers Association is another person who has worked very hard around the topic of mental health and has kindly invited me twice in the past to speak at the FSOA conference.  Peter has agreed to support the walk through the association and also very kindly agreed to donate some sporting memorabilia with authenticity for a future event with authenticity for a future event where the money raised will be donated to CPSL Mind.

So, what is next in the coming days?

Its still very busy, hopefully not too much work in the office and meetings at the Cledara Abbey stadium in the next couple of weeks as I really do need to churn out the steps whilst working on the pitch with the pedestrian machines in the coming weeks.

A practice session on the lake where the BIG FISH OFF will take place has been arranged.
Radio Interview with Heart Radio/LBC this coming week.

Working on the final stages of the Inspirational Young Stars awards evening which is partnered with the Cambridge Independent Newspaper.

Promoting the London to Berlin walk in the hope we can gain further media coverage.

Finally, a few special ‘Thank You’s’

All the media team at Cambridge United F.C for their continued support over past weeks.
To every person who has donated since the walk started and all the media groups and radio stations that have promoted the walk in support of CPSL Mind and mental health.

It is worth mentioning that CCFR has been supporting various charities for the past 20 years and in all that time I have never received the support that I have for the London – Berlin walk campaign. The support and engagement from Gary Sutcliffe and Olivia Hubbard has been simply outstanding with their hard work in generating media interest and with the communication they have offered.

CCFR normally only work with a charity for one year but last week I asked both of them a question?

The question was are you okay if we are in this for the long-haul as for the first time in CCFR history I feel I should continue working with the charity for the following year as I can see the enormous difference CPSL Mind makes to people’s lives. You can see from the information below what the London-Berlin walk helps support.
 
Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, and South Lincolnshire Mind (CPSL Mind) is a values-based, regional charity that supports local people in their recovery from mental health challenges, promotes wellbeing and campaigns against stigma and discrimination.

1.   Please feel free to refer people to the ‘Wellbeing Wheel’ on CPSL Mind’s website, which has four segments to best suit a person’s current mental health needs: Not Coping, Recovering, Supporting Others and Staying Well. By clicking on each segment, it will signpost individuals to advice on the CPSL website and supporting organisations.

2.      People can also call the CPSL Mind info line on 0300 303 4363 and the team will be able to signpost to relevant support.

3.      Please refer people to the STOP Suicide website: this is an award-winning suicide prevention campaign that seeks to empower communities and individuals across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to help stop suicides by being alert to the warning signs, asking directly about suicide and helping those who are feeling suicidal to stay safe. It is led by the charity Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire Mind (CPSL Mind) and supported by local NHS and Public Health teams. Visit https://stopsuicidepledge.org/

4.      If individuals are experiencing an emotional or mental health crisis, there are people who can help. In the first instance, contact your GP or call the NHS 111 service and select the mental health option to speak to a mental health professional. 

5.      CPSL Mind has a Sanctuary service in Cambridge and Peterborough, which provide safe spaces for individuals referred via the NHS First Response Service. 

6.      In an emergency, please dial 999.

7.      The Good Life Service offers a range of accessible options for community-based wellbeing support and connection throughout Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. This includes weekly Good Mood Cafes and Open-Door calm spaces, online wellbeing support and more.

Thanks again to everybody for the support.
Ian Darler B.E.M

See the slideshows for the steps taken on route to Berlin during April and May

The walking continues and I have now covered 380 miles so on schedule to hit the target by the final of the Euros in July. Special thanks to everybody who has again donated to the walk the total to date raised is £2,668. This money will support local Cambridgeshire residents in their recovery from mental health challenges.

Things also took a different direction this week when Kevin Johnson of C B Groundwork & Construction Ltd put a challenge that I simply could not refuse. Kevin has offered me the great fish-off challenge . He has offered to donate £2 for every 1lb of fish I can catch in a 10 hour session. This is a very generous offer and we hope other companies and individuals will consider sponsoring the THE BIG FISH OFF. Money raised from the Fish off will be added to the London to Berlin Just giving page.

More details concerning the Big Fish Off and confirmation of the event can been seen below

The walk has continued and I have now reached 557,689 steps as of 3rd May 2024. It has been very interesting in that several people have again come forward to talk about their mental health or a family member or friend.

The reason I agreed to undertake another walk for CPSL Mind was in the hope firstly it would raise a few pounds and it would support the staff at CPSL Mind in helping those who are going through life's challenges.

The money donated to date is £2,500 which is incredible in such a short time but equal to the money is the conversation generated around the walk.

I contacted the Molly Rose foundation this week and received some information packs back in the form of cards which will be used to help others who again are finding the challenges of life difficult. MOLLY ROSE FOUNDATION LINK

I have so much praise for all the outstanding work that Ian Russell has undertaken in trying to make the world a safer place for children, Ian's campaign to remove harmful content from social media after his daughter took her own life has most definitely made a difference for so many people but there is so much more to be done for people of all ages.

I have again had people come forward asking for help in the past couple of weeks, I know I have said this before on numerous occasions but I honestly could not have believed that the chapter LIFE CHANGING that I wrote in my book could have so much influence on people. There are so many people struggling with stress, depression and their general mental health and despite them trying to get help there simply was nothing out there on the NHS at their time of need and because of what I wrote they came and asked for help.

I contacted Gary Sutcliffe at CPSL MIND who I have been working with on the walk and he provided the information to help these people. Therefore the walk has already made a difference to people and the funds raised will provide more support.

Part of my way of dealing with the stress of life is to try not to worry things out of my control, I very seldom watch the news as it generally all bad news and I cannot change or do anything about it. I really wish that production teams working in the news production would have more thought about how they make people feel, Yes there has to be news but surely it would not be that hard to balance it out with some positive light-hearted news.  

Perhaps there's another programme for Ant & Dec ( THE GOOD NEWS PROGRAMME ) These two fellas are so popular because that put a smile on peoples faces and give the country a lift , I am sure they could fill a 30 minute news slot with all good positive stories and what a difference this would make to the way we feel. 

I am not into politics but everybody that has spoken to me is sick of the way country is at this time. Everything appears to be broken, so is it any wonder so many people need help, only this week the politicians are saying people with mental health problems need to get back to work, WELL HERE IS A MESSAGE TO YOUR PEOPLE SITTING IN YOUR IVORY TOWERS? Give these people the help and support they need and perhaps they would be able to return to work.
 
I can say this as afact because I know the two people I have been helping and they are both hard working people who for different reasons have hit the brick wall and need help but have simply been unable to get the support. This is where I am so proud of CAMBRIDGE UNITED FC as after I reported the issues to my line manager they arranged for these people to get assistance through Mynurva who work with the club and with the help from MIND it has provided support.

Why is this country now so dependent on individuals who have suffered personal losses to life to get things done? As well as Ian Russell I feel I should mention Clare Milford Haven who is simply an amazing lady. Clare is the founder of James Place and she has set up 3 safe places around the country and this offers support to so many people struggling with suicide thoughts. Clare lost her son and she now works hard to offer support to people. But why is this support not available through the NHS? simply they don't get the funding and the government would rather waste money on railway projects that don't materialize or send money abroad when people in this country need it.

I am really sorry that I have let rip with this report but it has has become very obvious in the past weeks that so many people are suffering in silence ? If you are one of these people please tell a family member or friend and ask for help, DON'T SUFFER IN SILENCE . 

I would also say that if you think somebody is not them self or looks to be struggling ask them ARE YOU ALRIGHT the answer you get back is likely to be yes i am fine ? but ask a second time ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE ALRIGHT ? let me assure you that you may be surprised by the second answer as people often open up. and that conversation could be the start to them opening up and asking for help.

I will end this update by saying thank you to everybody who has sponsored the CPSL MIND walk with their generous donations and kind words of support, I am very grateful to you all.
A date for your diary , 

We have arranged a short public walk along the Chisholm Trail to the River Cam and onto Horningsea before returning to the stadium on Sunday 26th May 2024, parking will be available at the Cledara Abbey stadium via Cut Throat Lane , parking from 9.30am and the walk starts at 10.30am,

Ian Darler B.E.M

I have spent the last 13 days walking around various parts of Cambridge and pleased to have already covered 159,829 steps.

Diary steps attached, 

Thank you to those people who have already donated.