Organisations come together to support mental health charity

Mental Health charity Lancashire Mind have announced the four event sponsors for this year's flagship fundraising event Mental Elf.  

Conlon Construction will be main headline sponsor with EPSL Educational Printing sponsoring the virtual finish line. Community Rail Lancashire are sponsoring the Elfie Selfie and Clitheroe Rugby club the Best Dressed Elf.    

The event is the charity’s biggest fundraiser of the year and is especially important this year as Lancashire Mind saw a significant drop in fundraising as most of their planned events were cancelled due to Covid–19.   

The race, which is usually a 5km run around Witton Park in Blackburn, has this year moved online and been extended to a staggering 3,226km team fundraising challenge - the distance from Lancashire to Santa’s home in Lapland.   

People are being urged to join in running, walking, cycling, swimming or even skipping up to a collective distance of 3,226km (2,005 miles) between Tuesday, December 1, and Saturday, December 12, all in aid of Lancashire Mind.   

Fundraising manager Emma Bateson said: “Mental Elf is Lancashire Mind’s flagship fundraising event and is in its 6thyear. This is the first time the physical event has been replaced with a virtual challenge and we are really excited to have created something new whilst also retaining all the best bits of Mental Elf from previous years.   

“Lancashire businesses and organisations are always a key part of Mental Elf and we really appreciate their help and support - we couldn’t do it without them.”  

Conlon Construction as well as being the main headline sponsor have also chosen Lancashire Mind as their charity of the year. Business Development Manager Neil Conlon said:” We are delighted to be the main sponsors of Lancashire Mind's Mental Elf: Lancashire to Lapland challenge this year.   

“Lancashire Mind are Conlon's charity of the year and this is just one of the many ways the team here have been raising funds and awareness in support of the important work Lancashire Mind do. As well as sponsoring the event, staff will also be taking part and helping to clock up the kilometres in aid of mental wellbeing for all in Lancashire."   Russell Dawson, Director at EPSL Educational Printing, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be sponsoring the Mental Elf virtual finish line this year and it is great to be working with our friends at Lancashire Mind again.  We have partnered with this charity on various projects for many years as its work is vital and, after an extremely difficult year for people across the county, it is more important than ever.  

“While it is a shame that the Mental Elf run cannot go ahead in its usual format this year, it is wonderful that the team have come up with such a fantastic alternative and we are sure that all the participating elves will make it from Lancashire to Lapland and over the virtual finish line!”  

Emma added: “Sponsorship is a fantastic way to support a local charity whilst achieving a route to market and generating great brand awareness amongst customers and communities. We are extremely fortunate to have some amazing business and organisations from across Lancashire who have continued to support us - raising funds and awareness throughout this challenging year.  

“As well as our event sponsors, we are in turn we are partnering with smaller businesses in our virtual marketplace. We have a collection of small, usually one person businesses selling their products in our virtual marketplace, and with a big emphasis on shopping local this year, we’re pleased to be playing our small part. So even if you’re not taking part in Mental Elf you can still bag a few Christmas presents.  

“Mental Elf 2020 is a truly Lancashire event and all the money raised is spent within Lancashire to help the people of Lancashire.”  

Last year Lancashire Mind worked directly with over 12,000 children and adults across the county and reached thousands more through phone calls, emails and on social media.   

“It’s so important that we’re able to continue to deliver our services to the people of Lancashire especially at this current time and the support we get from businesses like Conlon, EPSL, Community Rail Lancashire and Clitheroe Rugby Club allow us to do this.”  

You can still register to take part in Mental Elf by going to https://bit.ly/MentalElf2020