Milton Keynes mental health team takes on 20km fundraising challenge

Around 25 staff, service users and their families took part in the challenge on Friday 18 September, walking together through some of Milton Keynes’ beautiful scenery.

And there was a special meaning behind the challenge. To celebrate 20 years of the service, the team walked 1km for every year they have been supporting people experiencing their first episode of psychosis in the Milton Keynes community.

Walking together

The Early Intervention in Psychosis service opened in Milton Keynes in 2006 and has supported more than 1,000 people since it began. To mark its 20-year milestone, the team wanted to bring people together for a challenge that celebrated the service while highlighting the importance of physical health alongside mental health.

The longer route set off in the morning at Howe Park Wood, with around eight people taking on the full 20km, including Dr Simon Edgar, the founding consultant psychiatrist who helped establish the service 20 years ago.

The team encouraged and supported each other throughout the walk, enjoying the scenery and spending time together along the way. The route took the group across Milton Keynes, including Willen Lake, where they completed a figure-of-eight loop before making their way to Willen Pavilion.

For the final 5km, more service users joined the walk with staff and their families. It was great to have them involved and be part of the challenge, with everyone encouraging each other as they made their way towards the finish.

The walk took more than five hours to complete, with breaks along the way. When the group reached Willen Pavilion, everyone received a medal and celebrated together with speeches marking the achievement and 20 years of the service. Dr Edgar was also presented with a special award recognising his contribution to the service.

Reflecting on the milestone, Dr Edgar said:

“It’s been a real team effort and today has been a wonderful reflection of that. Since we started in 2006, we’ve cared for well over 1,000 patients, so a huge thank you to everyone who came along and took part in the walk.

“It’s been fantastic to bring mental and physical health together and, most importantly, to do something positive for our community. Long may it continue.”

Supporting physical health

The team is raising money to create more opportunities for people using the service to get active and support their physical and mental wellbeing.

Funds raised will help provide future physical health activities, resources and opportunities that encourage healthier lifestyles and support overall wellbeing.

Watch highlights from the day

Help make a difference

A huge thank you to everyone who took part, supported the team along the way and helped make the challenge such a memorable day.

The team has raised just under £1,500 so far for CNWL NHS Health Charity.

If you’d like to support the team and help create more opportunities for people using the service to stay active and look after their physical health, you can make a donation to their fundraising.