In July, we had a group of fantastic supporters who took the the saddle and cycled 100 miles from Oxford to Sherborne in one day, in memory of their dear friend Miles who tragically took his own life earlier last year.
Taking part in the cycle was Alex, Andrew, Ben, Charlie, Emily, Felix, Gavin, Jack, Nick, Olivia, Steve, Tatty and Will. And their brilliant support team: Alex, Ben, Hannah, Michelle and Vicky.
We are over the moon to announce the Miles for Miles team managed to raise an incredible £10,294 to support people across Oxfordshire experiencing mental health difficulties!
The team said:
Oxfordshire Mind is a charity that we all feel passionate about supporting having lost our dear friend, Miles, in March 2020. One of Oxfordshire Mind’s values is about raising awareness, promoting understanding and challenging stigma which we feel is so important given our personal experience. Although mental health is now more talked about and understood, there is still a long way to go to ensure those who are struggling feel safe and supported to ask for help. As a group of Miles’ closest friends we wanted to use this challenge as a way of coming together and supporting each other through this incredibly difficult time and in doing so, raise as much money as we could. We hope the money we have raised will help Oxfordshire Mind continue the amazing work they do in supporting local services and campaigning for positive change
Olivia Prince
11 hours after leaving Oxford Brookes, 24 aching legs, 12 Lycra-clad comrades and 5 brilliant support team members (Smiles for Miles!) arrived outside Sherborne Abbey after 4 punctures and 2 minor crashes having completed 1241 combined Miles for Miles. All in aid of 1 incredible cause. No ride is without it’s adversity, but wheels started turning at 8am and kept going through the rain, wind and sun on a day that gave us 4 seasons in as many hours.
Every arduous training ride, every drop of rain, every final push up a climb. All pale into insignificance when we consider what we were riding for. We lost our friend, Miles, to this devastating illness which we could not see. A Saturday spent on the bike with friends, sharing a physical suffering to raise funds so that those suffering as our friend did can access the support they need. To give us the confidence to know we can talk. It’s ok to not be ok. I hope our message reached out to everyone who saw it, to know that to feel that they can share. We lost our friend. But the work Oxfordshire Mind our doing means hopefully others don’t lose theirs.
Steve Baker
We’re overwhelmed by the commitment of all those involved, and by the generosity of everyone who donated. A big thank you to the Miles for Miles team and everyone who joined them on their challenge.
If you’d like to read more about their challenge challenge and make a donation, you can do so here.
If their story and fundraising has inspired you to get involved and fundraise for us yourself, you can order a free fundraising pack here
