Mind Over Miles: Our 24 hours, 78 mile walking challenge.
We’re walking to shine a light, raise awareness, and fund the incredible work Mind does every day.
Mind Over Miles: Our 24 hours, 78 mile walking challenge.
What are we doing?
On Friday 10th October, World Mental Health Day, the Harding Financial team will take on our toughest challenge yet: a 24-hour walking relay for Mind; a charity that works to support those experiencing loneliness, loss, anxiety, depression and wider mental health issues.
We’re calling our challenge “Mind Over Miles” – and it’s exactly that. From 9:00 AM Friday to 9:00 AM Saturday, our team will keep moving for approximately 78 miles, whatever the weather. Through the cold, the dark, and the rain, we’ll walk in 4-hour shifts, determined to keep going for one reason:
Because no one should face a mental health problem alone.
This won’t be easy. It’s going to test our endurance and spirit – but that’s the point. For so many, living with mental health challenges can feel like an endless journey through the dark. We’re walking to shine a light, raise awareness, and fund the incredible work Mind does every day.
Here’s how you can help:
✅ Sponsor our team – Every donation helps Mind provide life-saving support so please donate what you can via our Just Giving page.
✅ Join us for a slot – Additionally, you can brave the elements with us and show your support in person. Please note that each walking slot starts and ends at our offices just outside of Guildford and will cover approximately 13 miles. We'll also have the option for guest participants to finish their walk at the half-way point (after 6-7 miles). Some of our Financial Planners will also be available to chat to during the route. Register your interest by filling out our form, here.
✅ Share our challenge with your network – We'd appreciate anything you can do to share this webpage link with your friends, family and wider network.
✅ Share your stories – Mental Health comes in many forms and is an issue that many people often don't understand until they experience it first-hand. Sharing our experiences can improve people's understanding and help others. If you have a story that you would like to share, we'd love to hear it and I hope you'll get in touch by emailing our Charity Champion, Helen Monteith, at [email protected]
Together, we can turn miles into hope. Thank you for standing with us.
A Colleague Story
In this article, a member of our team shares her very personal experience of Mind and the important work they do.
When I first started writing this article, only a week ago, things were so positive. My sister was doing well, and as a family, we felt hopeful—grateful for how far she had come and for the support we’d received. But life with mental health struggles can change in an instant. In just a few days, everything shifted again as my sister relapsed.
This is the reality for so many families like ours. It’s why the work Mind does is not just important ; it’s essential.
When my sister attempted suicide for the first time, it was a complete shock. There were no signs, no warnings, nothing to prepare us for the pain and confusion that followed. We were left reeling, not just with fear and sadness, but also with anger. We didn’t understand why this had happened, or how to help her. That anger came from a place of helplessness and not knowing what to do
Mind became our lifeline. They welcomed my sister into one of their residential homes, giving her a safe space and a dedicated support worker. For the first time, she began to learn how to talk about her mental health, to put words to feelings she’d kept hidden. Mind didn’t just help her—they helped us too. Through their support, my sister learned to explain what she was experiencing, and we began to understand. The anger and confusion started to fade, replaced by empathy and a renewed sense of connection.
Recovery, though, is rarely a straight line. When my sister attempted suicide again, Mind responded immediately, welcoming her back into the respite centre. Later, when she felt herself slipping and wanted to prevent another crisis, Mind proactively took her in, showing us all the power of early intervention and ongoing care.
Their support has been consistent, compassionate, and absolutely vital—not just for my sister, but for our whole family. They helped us become a family that could talk, listen, and support each other, even in the darkest moments.
But as our recent experience shows, things can change so quickly. That’s why it’s so important that Mind has the resources to keep providing this level of support—not just in moments of crisis, but every day, for as long as it’s needed. We couldn’t have done it without them.
If you or someone you love is struggling, please know that help is out there. Mind is proof that even when hope feels fragile, there is support, there is understanding, and there is always a way forward.
Thank you for supporting us in our fundraising activities. We all very much appreciate it.
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We look forward to hearing from you and being your financial partner.
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