Crossing the line on the 200×100 Challenge

Well!

Thank goodness that Challenge is over (at least I speak for myself).  32 individuals or teams worked really hard during September to cycle 200 miles.  Everyone has completed the challenge and for the most part everyone enjoyed the experience.  I don’t know what the total mileage eventually completed was, but that’s rather less important than the total amount contributed to the work of Jamie’s Fund.  Over £18,000 has so far been donated, every penny of which will go towards the work in Uganda.

Three generations

The Challengers (the cyclists) completed their miles in many different ways.  Some did a few long trips while others tried to do a bit every day.  Some were on the latest racing or touring bikes while some did their miles in the gym or at home.  It really didn’t matter because the important thing was doing the Challenge in order to raise funds.

Many of the Challengers are not people I have met personally or even heard of before the Challenge but, nevertheless, I feel that we have somehow come together in our shared endeavour.  I was tempted to say “shared pain” but that would suggest that others found it as hard as I did which I suspect they didn’t.  For this old codger it was certainly an interesting experience labouring “up hill and down dale”. Actually one of the advantages for those who cycled outdoors (over those on a fixed bike) was that the pain of climbing hills was at least compensated for to some extent by the down-hill sections.  The longest non-pedalling stretch I achieved was about 2.5 miles, slowing only for the photo when going past a speed camera!  That was a glorious experience that made up for the climb to the top.  It will long be remembered.  No doubt each of the others will carry their own memories of the Challenge.

Some Welsh hills

As far as I can tell, everyone who took part enjoyed the experience and for a number of us it has been an opportunity not only to get back on a bicycle but also to continue to ride beyond the Challenge.

But we also remember WHY we did the Challenge which was to help people on the far side of the world who need help with their mental health.  With the support of so many generous donors, also from all over the world, Jamie’s Fund is able to continue the work through the hospitals and health centres who work with us.

And so:

To the cyclists (The Challengers) a huge THANK YOU.

To the donors who have given so generously an even bigger THANK YOU.

To the partners of Jamie’s Fund in Uganda who do work with those who are mentally ill goes the biggest THANK YOU of all.  You are the stars who make the difference to the lives of others.

Hugh Burgess

Chair of Jamie’s Fund

 If you would like to donate to the work we are doing,  please click HERE.

World Mental Health Day – 10th October 2020.

This Saturday is World Mental Health day, focusing attention on an area that is all too often ignored or low down the agenda in many situations.

As you know Jamie’s Fund is doing what it can to increase access to mental health care in Uganda.

We were asked this week to describe to those at a virtual conference the work we are doing in Uganda.  Prof Maureen Wilkinson and Joshua Ssebunnya, senior clinical psychologist at Butabika Hospital in Kampala describe our approach in this video. You may need to register to watch it and the quality isn’t great.  The echo was off-putting to the speakers and listeners.  The section on JF starts at 26 minutes 15 seconds.

Maureen and Joshua