An incredible fundraising effort is underway at West Hill School in Stalybridge and we are very lucky to have received a donation to support our work as part of the drive!

Thirty-seven Year 10 and 11 pupils from the school have been fundraising for their trip of a lifetime to Tanzania next year! As part of a bag pack at Marks & Spencer’s in Ashton Moss the group raised a tremendous amount of money and have generously donated 25% to us at TOG Mind, coming to a total of £1263.19.

But the boys' fundraising doesn’t stop there. They are continuing to raise money through their own initiatives to reach their mammoth, six-figure target! Coming up this Sunday (27th May) is a Car Boot Sale and they also have a planned virtual journey (walk, swim, run, cycle) to cover 760 miles – the length of Tanzania.

The core objectives of this expedition are to undertake projects to:

• Raise the educational standards of developing communities within rural districts of Tanzania.

• Build, renovate and teach in local primary schools.

• Raise the living standards of developing communities within that area.

• Assist with on-going wildlife and marine conservation programmes.

• Help preserve biodiversity and protect vulnerable habitats in national parks and conservation areas.

If you would like to support the groups fundraising you can get in contact with the Tanzania Team at West Hill School by calling on 0161 338 2193 or getting in touch with Andrew Carty at carty [at] westhillschool.co.uk.

Amy Saunders from the TOG Mind Fundraising Team popped by to see the group, to say thank you for their incredible efforts!

The money raised will go directly into funding the mental health support offered at TOG Mind, who work across the Tameside, Oldham and Glossop areas. Every year, more people are facing problems with their mental health.

TOG Mind work to ensure that they can offer help to anyone that needs it, through guided self-help, mental health advocacy, drop-ins and more. Their other work involves teaching the community about mental health problems, how to recognise mental health symptoms and ways to reduce the negative stigma which, sadly, is still a barrier to people asking for help.

For more information about TOG Mind and the services offered, visit our website www.togmind.org; or you can drop us a call at 0161 330 9223.

If you’ve been inspired by this story and are interested in running your own event, or if you just want to donate, contact fundraising [at] togmind.org.