Founder of MindSpace Stamford, Dr Dan Petrie, has launched a sponsorship appeal on behalf of his family with a target of £5,000 ahead of Stamford's Santa Fun Run on Sunday the 5th of December.

This personal fundraiser was launched in October and has already begun to gather numerous donations. In his moving personal appeal, MindSpace Vice Chair, Dr Dan Petrie has written about his wife's struggles with mental health:

"Everyone has had a tough few years and there is something about that which has brought us all together, however we all still have our unique, personal stories as to why it's been hard for each of us.

"My wife Cass has had an exceptionally tough time. Already struggling with mental illness, everything Covid has done around isolating people and taking away support networks has made this an incredibly tough season resulting in two long spells in hospital away from us and several occasions when the illness and the distress it causes nearly meant we lost Cassie.

"I want Cassie to be there when we do things as a family and not missing as she was in this photo, but that applies to every family where people are absent due to their own struggles with mental health. That is one of the big aims of MindSpace, connection and increasing knowledge and understanding so that supporting one another increasingly becomes the way we do things around here."

MindSpace Stamford is a local charity with a vision to improve the Mental Health and Wellbeing of the whole of Stamford and help its people to flourish. They provide local, community minded groups to a range of local people as well as running a hub where people can reach out for help.

MindSpace also partners with local organisations and educational settings to encourage local people to support each other, listen better and be able to better manage Mental Wellbeing with a community approach.

The sessions run by MindSpace are safe spaces which are open to all, offering warmth and friendship, with different groups and styles to suit a variety of people.

Despite the challenges of Covid, MindSpace has been actively supporting local people. Since August 2020, 3,534 sessions have been accessed by individual members as part of a programme offering support across 19 activities, all aligned to the 5 Ways to Wellbeing and chosen for the programme based on community consultation findings.

Dan has added: "We are hopeful that things are beginning to turn around, but each day is another step on the journey and MindSpace is a part of that – community is the answer that is everything MindSpace encourages and supports through its culture and activities."

How the funds raised through this initiative will be used:

• Plans to extend the opening hours of the premises, particularly in the evenings
• Covering the costs for more staff and volunteer events
• Extending support throughout the community
• Expanding the small charity so that it can offer greater support to local people

All of the Petrie family are planning to take part in the Santa Fun Run in Burghley Park in December: Dan and his wife Cassie, Gretel 9, Fergus 11 and Ezra 7, and even young Oran aged 2. Together they will be proudly waving the Team MindSpace flag.

Every donation is greatly appreciated. To support this adventurous and charitable young family, follow the link to their Go Fund Me page.

For more information on MindSpace, go to mindspacestamford.com.