Anita to scale Kilimanjaro for Mind Your Head

A LOCAL woman is set to climb Mount Kilimanjaro as a part of a number of activities to raise money for mental health charity Mind Your Head.

Anita Georgeson will scale the 5,895 metre African mountain in September as she aims to raise £10,000 for the local charity.

She will also hold a series of fundraising events throughout the year, including a walk up Ronas Hill and an old school disco.

Mind Your Head service manager Anouska Civico said the money raised would be used on a monthly basis to allow people to apply for funding for anything to improve their wellbeing, such as a shirt and tie for an interview or a session with a chiropractor.

Anita said she decided to raise money for Mind Your Head after being taken to a “low place” last year which saw her signed off work.

“Some of the hardest days, I could not have coped had it not been for family, my Dad was my rock and my close friends,” she said.

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“I totally lost my identity for weeks and months I went on just getting through the days. My spirit had been torn from me and it was hard to explain how it felt to my family.”

Anita said she gradually “grew stronger and stronger” and helped by walking in Shetland’s outdoors, she did the West Highland Way and climbed Ben Nevis.

She said she decided to raise money for Mind Your Head because “I felt I had just about lost mine”.

“It’s a fantastic charity for so many that can’t find it in themselves to fully talk to family and friends. They are there to help you,” Anita added.

Civico said: “I am in awe of Anita’s drive and enthusiasm about the climb but also her commitment to not only raising money for us but highlighting the work of the charity.

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“We intend to use the money to set up ‘Anita’s pot’. Each month we will allocate an amount of money from the overall amount raised and we will ask individuals to apply for money for whatever they feel would have an impact on their wellbeing.

“Examples could be a shirt and tie for an interview, sessions with a chiropractor, electricity top-up, a haircut, the list is endless. A small panel will asses the applications at the end of each month and a number of individuals will be supported via the ‘pot’. This is a great way to help numerous people within the community and we can be creative in how it helps.”

Anita’s other planned events include:

• Fundraising nights at the Gurkha Kitchen on 28 March and the Great Wall on 8 May
• Glow extravaganza at the Clickimin on 12 May
• Organised walk up Ronas Hill on 9 June
• Old style disco at the Lerwick Legion on 23 June
• Bag packing at Tesco between 11am and 4pm on 30 June