Russell Roof Tiles has launched its charity programme with a stand up paddle board (SUP) challenge to raise money for mental health charity Mind after recently announcing its ambitious target to raise £50,000 for good causes this year in its Give 4 Good project.
The first charity event sees a team of eight, paddling collectively 210 miles (the distance between the Russell Roof Tile Burton and Lochmaben sites), between March and June 2022.
The team are paddling the waterways, River Trent and canal close to Burton to raise money for Burton & District Mind, which provides a range of high-quality counselling services, supported by mindfulness, eco-therapy, workplace health and peer support.
The Russell Roof Tiles SUP team is aiming to raise at least £2,000 for Mind. Lynne Barrell, chief officer from Burton & District Mind, commented: “Our community is now in a mental health emergency. The pandemic has had a devastating effect on vulnerable people with existing mental health problems, with increased loneliness and poverty.
“But even more alarming, we have seen a rapid and lasting increase in people showing the tell-tale signs of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Furthermore, we are now seeing emotional burnout from front line staff, carers and those key family members who have been looking after everyone else!”
Figures from the Health and Safety Executive found that in the UK alone, more than 400,000 working days were lost due to mental health issues in 2018, with mental health issues costing the sector approximately £37 billion every year.
