A PERSONAL trainer has raised over £4,000 for a mental-health counselling service after completing a 24-hour fitness challenge.
Nick Carpenter ran 1.8km and completed 18 burpee jumps and slam ball throws (throwing a medicine ball) on the hour every hour in a day, while raising money for non-profit therapy organisation Room 2 Talk.
The challenge was completed in memory of his friend James Bailey, who took his own life.
The number 18 represents the number of people, on average, who take their own life each day in the British Isles.
Mr Carpenter said: ‘It is hard to put into words how I feel.
‘I want to say thank you to everyone who sent supportive messages, donations and for everyone who showed up to take part in the challenge with me.
‘I felt very emotional and I also felt all the aches and pains from the challenge. But we made it and raised a huge amount of money and awareness together for mental health.’
Mr Carpenter was joined by fellow Islander Kurt Dingle, who completed the challenge in Australia, where he lives.
The pair completed a similar challenge last year and raised over £6,000 for mental-health support group LINC Community.
Helen Morgan, director of Room 2 Talk – which counsels adult Islanders who are members, staff or employees of any Jersey charity or non-profit organisation – said: ‘We were incredibly grateful to be nominated to receive such an amazingly generous sum and delighted to be chosen. This money will enable us to provide free counselling for a significant number of qualifying people to support them through difficult life experiences such as stressful work situations, relationship issues and bereavement.
‘In addition, it will allow us to further subsidise counselling for qualifying people, further reducing our low fees for them.’
She added: ‘It’s difficult to put a figure on the number but we estimate this could help in the region of 20 to 40 Islanders. If more people are reached at earlier points during difficult life experiences it is possible to reduce the pressure on crisis services.’
– To contribute to the fundraising visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/nicholas-carpenter
