Russell Roof Tiles charity SUP paddleboard team (stand up paddleboard) smashed their target and raised £3315.00 for mental health charity Mind, completing a 210-mile challenge.
A team of eight, paddled the distance, which is the same mileage is between the Russell Roof Tile Burton and Lochmaben sites), between March and June 2022. The team included three complete beginners, and was made up of staff, or partners of staff, at the roofing firm. The team broke their £2,000 target.
Russell Roof Tiles has an ambitious target to raise a £50,000 for good causes, with a project called Give 4 Good. Russell Roof Tiles employs 140 people at two sites in Burton, and one in Lochmaben (Scotland). The “Give 4 Good” the project is part of the firm’s celebration of 10 years of independence.
The challenge was the brainchild of its Managing Director’s wife at Russell Roof Tiles, Coral Hayward, she commented “Having suffered with my own mental health issues, I learned to “SUP” with Burton-Upon-SUP 12 months ago to continue mindfulness, supporting this charity has meant a lot to me personally.
“So, from an idea eight months ago to achieving a 210-mile charity paddle is an incredible achievement for me and the Team, not forgetting three of our paddlers who had never tried it 12 weeks ago.
“Knowing we will help Mind deliver 150 holistic therapy sessions with our Russell Roof Tile donation has been a humbling experience and one our local community will benefit from.
“The statistics prove more funding is needed and I sincerely hope the work our Give 4 Good initiative is doing makes a difference to those that need help and support.”
The team comprised Coral Hayward, Michael Palmer (Area Sales Manager), John Dervey (Sales Executive), Otto Mathiesen (Maintenance Manager), Athenais Hill (fiancé of Quality Supervisor Kirby Charlesworth), Daniel Hancox (Business Support Manager), Chris Bailey (IT Manager) and supplier Kathryn Greenwood.
The team paddled the waterways, River Trent to raise money for Burton & District Mind which provides a range of high-quality counselling services, supported by mindfulness, eco-therapy, workplace health, peer support and employability & tenancy services. Typically, they see 3000 people a year, but in 2022, they will need to support many more.
Lynne Barrell, Chief Officer from Burton & District Mind commented “Since the Paddleboards took to the river in March 2022, we have provided 2,450 counselling sessions, 150 holistic and mindfulness sessions, 180 peer support sessions and have supported at least 400 people over the phone who have enquired about our support or what to do in mental distress! It’s not enough. Our team needs to grow and the support we provide has to reach deeper into the community.
“Russell Roof Tiles have raised an amazing £3315 – smashing their generous target. We are overwhelmed. This funding will support 12 weeks of holistic therapy, providing 150 sessions to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities with massage and group mindfulness sessions, which are particularly helpful in supporting people who perhaps aren’t ready for counselling or who have benefitted but something to remind them how to manage stress.
The SUP team was supported and trained by local expert, Dawn Smitten, Instructor and Owner of Burton Upon SUP.
Figures from the Health and Safety Executive found that in the UK alone, more than 400,000 working days were lost to mental health issues in 2018, with mental health issues costing the sector approximately £37 billion every year.
