Kick off for Mental Health
Posted by Simon, 15th October 2018, views: 3240
Britains Got Talent stars are heading to Barrow to support Mind in Furness and help Kick off 4 Mental Health.
World Mental Health kicked off today (10) with the announcement that Charity fundraiser Dan Webber. Will be holding a Kick off 4 Mental Health event next year in aid of Barrow and Millom charity Mind in Furness.
As well as the event on May 25 at Hawcoat Park there will be a comedy night featuring BGT star Jonny Awson and a singing competition fronted by ex-Artful Dodger vocalist Lifford Shinningford who featured on this year’s BGT.
Education officer and father-of-three Dan organised this year’s Kick Off 4 Alzheimer’s dedicating to dementia by using his father Mike as inspiration.
The former shipyard electrician was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia – one of the lesser known forms of the condition – two years ago, aged just 57.
In 2017 he held the first Kick Off event in aid of Cancer Research.
The 28-year-old explained how this year’s event was something that was also close to his heart.
He added: “I have had a lot of family and friends who have experienced mental health issues so I know how important services such as Mind in Furness are.
“I want to get people talking about mental health openly and try and help remove the stigma that still exists with mental health.
“Mental health is not just about anxiety and depression there is so much more to it and we want to get people talking about it.
“We will be holding the Kick off 4 Mental Health on May 25 as well as a Laugh out Loud event with Jonny Awson from Britain’s Got Talent and a Sing Out to Charity event talent competition featuring Lifford Shinningford from the Artful Dodger who was also on this year’s BGT.”
Barrow Mayor Councillor Bill McEwen has chosen Mind in Furness as one of his three charities this year and was happy to support WMH day and the up and coming Kick Out 4 Cancer.
He said: “I’m happy to support a great cause not just today but every single day. Mental health is something that can affect anyone at any time and we need to make sure we support charities working in our community who deal with this on a daily basis.
“I hope that people support this fantastic event and get 100 per cent behind Mind in Furness.”
Mind in Furness Chief Officer Karen Dobson said: “We’re very excited and grateful that Dan and The Kick Off team have decided to support Mind in Furness for 2019, we look forward to working with them to raise awareness of the work we do locally and help people develop a better understanding of mental health and how it affects us all.”
Mind in Furness is a self-funding charity with shops in Millom and Barrow.
For further information contact Suzanne Murphy. Community Engagement and Fundraising Officer at Suzanne.murphy@mindinfurness.org.uk or call Mind in Furness on 01229 827094.