Hundreds brave rain for Mind Your Head run
TORRENTS of rain did not deter nearly 500 people from taking part in an annual charity run to raise awareness of mental health in the islands at the weekend.
The eleventh Mind Your Head Fun Run and Walk at Cunningsburgh took place on a dreich summer Sunday afternoon, with 282 pre-registered participants joined by a further 183 registering on the day to give a total of 465.
This year, in addition to the run and traditional Sunday teas, there were face painters, children’s games, glitter tattooists and souvenir photos, all of which organisers said proved to be very successful.
The fun run and walk is Mind Your Head’s biggest event of the year, with the aim of the day being to get as many people together from all communities and walks of life to promote and raise awareness of the issues surrounding mental ill-health.
It also serves as a great fundraiser for the charity, with the total raised so far this year standing at £5,585.
Mind Your Head project manager Anouska Civico said: “It was amazing to see so many people turn out in what was [a] pretty awful day. It really goes to show the support and generosity of the community for this charity and the important work it does.
“The number of volunteers baking, helping out on the day and in the run-up to the event is amazing and we are ever so grateful. Thank you to all volunteers and people who turned up on the day. See you all next year!”
Mind Your Head vice-chairwoman Katrina Wiseman said it was her first fun run as a committee member and she was “so amazed at the number of volunteers coming forward to support the charity, a charity which is so important in Shetland”.
“It makes me very proud to be a Shetlander,” she added.
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Civico said that, with the charity’s AGM coming up in September, Mind Your Head is looking for new committee members and would be particularly keen to see some more men getting involved.
She added that Mind Your Head’s priority continues to be setting up adult support services to help people who are going through difficulties.
“We’ll always campaign and raise awareness, but the future is about offering more than that. The focus is on trying to secure funding, whether, locally, nationally, however we do that.”
- Anyone who is interested in getting involved with Mind Your Head can contact Anouska Civico on (01595) 745035.
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