Kev Garfield, Richard Crook and Brian Jukes completed the Great North Run, raising nearly £3,000 for Northamptonshire Mind.
Three friends from Northamptonshire have raised nearly £3,000 for local mental health charity Northamptonshire Mind after completing the Great North Run.
Kev Garfield, Richard Crook and Brian Jukes took on the 13.1-mile challenge in Newcastle on Sunday 7 September, raising £2,825 to support the charity’s vital work across the county.
Kev Garfield, head of business support at Northampton-based VMS Ltd, spearheaded the fundraising effort with help from local firms including BACA, BTN Automotive, JW Signs and D&H Commercial Repairs.
“Our little running group was set up to support Richard after the loss of his twin brother last year,” said Kev. “Mental health affects so many people — one in four will face related challenges — so for us, coming together and uniting local businesses to help others has been remarkable.”
Paul Marshall, community services manager at Northamptonshire Mind, said: “We’re incredibly honoured that Kev, Brian and Richard chose to support us. Their run is a powerful reminder of the role friendship plays in men’s mental health. Too often men struggle in silence, but by looking out for one another we can change that.”
Donations to the group’s fundraising page are still open at JustGiving.
To learn more about Northamptonshire Mind’s work, visit www.northamptonshiremind.org.uk.