By
James Cameron
York
The goal is to raise £250 towards the Great York Walk and it’s charity Mentally Fit York for the betterment and awareness of mental health in York, the UK and the world. Beyond the fundraiser, I will be participating in a half-marathon long walk around the entirety of the city of York in order to raise awareness towards mental health on May 28th.
I am a Canadian immigrant to the UK, and a soon-to-be masters student at the University of York having recently finished my initial studies in history.
I, like many of you, have known many people who have struggled with mental health, and have found that getting involved directly in somebody else’s mental health can oftentimes be damaging for your own. It’s a vicious cycle. Sadly, this cycle can be very dissuasive, oftentimes scaring people away from helping those who need it. I am perhaps victim to this, and have been looking for ways to help those in need in a more indirect way, but in a way that can be just as impactful.
Now more than ever though, with the increased costs of living, having just come out of the pandemic and with news from abroad making for grim reading at the moment, people’s mental health will again come under a strain. People will need help by any means, and in terms of an “indirect” involvement to better the lives of others, the Great York Walk serves as an excellent platform in regards to raising awareness and in fundraising for the betterment of others.
The money will go to Mentally Fit York, working towards the betterment of mental health in York, whether that be new initiatives in the area, or the funding of scholarships for mental health nurses. It’s for the peace of mind of others, when they need it most.