A Manchester charity has received a helping hand for its upcoming ‘Happy Monday’ event – from its President Stephen Fry.
The brain-child of Mind, ‘Happy Monday’ will look to promote mental health awareness, with particular emphasis on larger workplaces, schools, colleges and local media organisations.
The event will run on Monday 10 March and will combine fundraising with awareness-raising in response to the allegedly gloomy ‘Blue Monday’ – apparently the most depressing day of the year – which has just past.
Participants are encouraged to invite their friends and colleagues for an almighty bake-off, or cook-off depending on your preference, amidst a host of fun and games including a readily prepared cake-themed sweepstake.
Fry, who has battled with mental health issues of his own, has been president of mind since 2011, and hopes people will join in and arrange their own fund-raising events.
Fry said: “I’m hoping the kind people of Britain will roll up their sleeves on March 10th delightful excuse to spend time with friends and loved ones, or to tempt colleagues away from their desks, to raise vital funds for the 1 in 4 people who experience a mental health problem every year.
The TV personality plans to roll up his sleeves and bake up some honey buns, a recipe he has shared on Mind’s website.
He said: “I’ve been inspired to dust off my favourite Honey Buns recipe for Happy Monday and have every faith in the creativity of Mind supporters, to come up with their very own ways to brighten their Monday and raise money for this incredibly good cause.”
2012 Great British Bake Off winner John Whaite, has also shared one of his recipes – a yummy carrot cake.
“I’ll be having my own bake-off for Mind because baking is a fun process and cathartic too,” he said.
“If you’re missing a moment or time in your life, you can get back in the kitchen and make something from that time and share it with your friends and family.”
Joanna Huddart, Business Development Support Worker of Manchester Mind hopes that many more will follow suit and join in with the fun.
She said: “We would like to encourage everyone in the city to get behind Happy Monday, come together to share food – and help us support the one in four people who experience mental health problems every year.
“By hosting their own fundraising events and spending quality time with family, friends and colleagues, people can do something positive for their wellbeing, whilst raising donations for Manchester Mind.”
For more details and support on organising your Happy Monday event, please contact Joanna Huddart at Manchester Mind – [email protected].
Alternatively, you can register your event and claim your resources by clicking here.
Image courtesy of Freedom Fry — “Happy birthday to GNU, via WikiCommons, with thanks.
