Do Something Good Today!!!

Everyday the media are painting a very negative look on the world but it's not all bad, there are great things going on in the world everyday so many of the good things go unnoticed, they don't get the credit they deserve.

We can all do something to improve the days of those around us, a simple smile, helping the struggling woman who has 6 bags of shopping and 2 screaming kids, the old lady who is struggling to cross the road safely or the old guy who lives a few doors down but feels isolated and never has visitors to come and see him.

Even when someone does something good and they post either pictures or a video, the first thought of everyone is they are only doing it to be congratulated! very untrue, its to show others what they could be doing, showing that there are good people left in the word and at the same time they are spreading awareness. The people who are moaning and being negative about something so positive are the ones who think about themself and no one else.

We cant help everyone in the world so don't think you need to be on a mission to do so but you can make a difference to the things that are close to your heart.

There are so many amazing things happening, i would ask that if you have made it this far into the article then you would be kind enough to follow this hashtag #RespectMentalHealth We have something big coming and we would love you to be the first to see it and help support it! we will be running some fundraisers all for Mind Charity and will reveal all very soon! for now get following!!!

I have some amazing connections who are doing some great things this year for some great causes and i would like to share with you what they are doing. If you see something that is close to your heart then please follow or connect with them, follow their journey and find out more about what they are looking to achieve and possibly help them along their way.

Nik McEwan

Last year i walked from Portsmouth to Edinburgh, this was to raise money and spread awareness for Shelter. I wanted to get a good feel for how it felt being on the streets, homeless. I wanted to challenge myself and there was no better way to do this than by involving Shelter and having the real life experience of it all.

The support i got from people i know and from social media was incredible, i completed 732 miles in 41 days, raising over ￡5,000 which was donated to Shelter to support their great work around homelessness and to help prevent other people being in this situation.

This year i am doing it all again but this time it will be BIGGER! I will be walking, running, skipping and crawling from one border to another. This is the big USA expedition where i will start in Loredo and finish up on in Toronto. The route in total is 2250 miles and this will take me 3 months in total. I the help, love and support has been amazing so far and your continued support for my next expedition would be appreciated.

For this i will be supporting Walking with the wounded, Derian House Children's Hospice and the Lee Fancourt Mental Health Fund. please connect and follow me on my journey!

NAHLA SUMMERS

Nahla Summers, the founder of Sunshine People, for her 2020 challenge will set about travelling around the world completing 20 challenges of kindness in 20 different countries. However, she is completing this on an ElliptiGO bike and plans to make two World Records in the process of this epic and adventurous, some might say crazy, 4500 mile trip.

The challenges she has to complete in each country will vary from giving a day of free hugs in Finland, to feeding 100 people with ￡10 in Estonia, to setting up a Free Listening movement (Urban Confessional) in Slovania. 

Businesses will also get the bonus opportunity to partner with the 2020 Sunshine People challenge to feature in the challenge and social media or to be a more simple sponsor with some pretty impressive packages available. 

There will also be a chance for individuals to get involved too through the kick starter campaign that will be launched on the 1st March and end on the 30th March 2020. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1718258220/1968248745?ref=be7zno&token=0084ed4d

Also if anyone would like to send a donation to help make this challenge happen that will influence millions of acts of kindness you can go to the website and make a donation there also. www.sunshinepeople.org.uk

 It will start on the 1st August in the UK and finish in Luxembourg on the 17th November World Kindness day. Taking a total of 3 and half months.

SCOTT WALKER

#100lbchallenge www.justgiving.com/fundraising/scott-walker79

Sadly, my Mum was diagnosed with dementia some time ago. After her health starting to go down hill, she also got diagnosed with Myloma (blood cancer). As I write this...she has weeks remaining at best. I'm going this challenge to try and turn a negative, into something more positive.

CHLOE BARTLETT

I am running my first marathon this year which will be the London marathon. I am running it for a charity called Aberdeen Cyrenians. Cyrenians are a homeless charity in Aberdeen who provide services to people in need, these range from a safe space and foods to help with housing and helping people get back on there feet.

I used to be an employee of the charity and have seen first hand the way it has changed lives for the better and I am now looking to try and help some more by running this marathon.

I have attached the link to my donations page below, thankyou.

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=ChloeBartlett1&pageUrl=1

CHRIS GUILFOYLE - DEMELZA HOUSE

Middle of last year I was struggling to see the woods from the trees and business just relentless. Iv always kept busy training and decided I would book an event to give me something to aim for. So I booked an Ironman man, know as one of the toughest endurance events in the world.

After a month of training I quickly realise this was going to be what it said on the tin f##king hard work. I have done some work with Demelza house who cares for terminally Ill children so thought if I raise some money for them and put it on social I can’t back out ??

Demelza is a great charity and I personally couldn’t imagine anything worse than my child getting a terminal diagnoses so it was a no brainer.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/chris-guilfoyle-iron-man

FRANCESCA DE LACEY

I'm doing Run Norwich for Finnbar's Force - a local charity for childhood brain tumours. I don't personally know the family but have supported the charity a couple of small ways and liked the idea of combining a real focus to get fitter and hopefully generating a decent sum of money for an important charity. I have only just been offered a place so my donation page isn't up yet! But this is the charity I'll be running for - https://www.finnbarsforce.co.uk/

ROSS QUAILE

I'm raising funds for the Eilidh Brown Appeal by taking part in a number of events across the year, including my first marathon. More info here - www.justgiving.com/ross-quaile5 

CHARLOTTE WOOD

I am running London Marathon this year to raise money for Leukaemia Care, ana amazing charity that supports those suffering with blood cancer and their families. Having lost my childhood best friend to this disease, I know the effect it can have. My fundraising link is https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/2020virginmoneylondonmarathonleukaemiacare-charlottewood

KATY BARKER

My sister is doing an Ironman in Switzerland this summer. She is raising money for Crohn's & Colitis UK as someone we know was recently diagnosed with a rare, incurable, autoimmune progressive liver disease called PSC (primary sclerosing cholangitis). Its progression is variable, and the only treatment is a liver transplant.

It is associated with a rare form of ulcerative colitis (which they have also been diagnosed with) and a higher risk of bowel cancer.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Emily-Murray9

She's on instagram as emtris2020. 

JOSH BOULT

I volunteer to help endangered or injured animals in 3rd world countries every year. Last year for example i lived in the rainforest of Borneo with a local tribe ensuring a safe welfare for the wild orangutan's. Also caring for any injured, parent-less orangutans.

This year i'm off to Namibia to live in a camp which takes in injured animals, and cares for them to one day re-coop to a level where they can be released back into the wild. 

ANIMALS > HUMANS. 

ROBERT HAYLOR

I'm running the Torquay Half Marathon in June for Sense Abilities CIC. I am doing this first off to prove to myself I can run a half marathon, as its my first time, and also to help raise funds for this valuable CIC. https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/robert-haylor-running-for-sense-abilities

Elton Cilliers

I'm not a charity, I'm simply someone who has dealt with, or helped people through mental health issues in my life, including my teenage sons. 

My project goal is to help 20 charities in 2020 but ideally, I'd like to be donating 1 day of my time per week (ie, 52 charities helped in 2020) but as I've not got a huge following, I'm having to do all the leg work myself. Research and contact local charities which takes me away from trying to build relationships and generate paid gigs as financially I am in some serious poo! Not entirely sure how I'm paying my mortgage next month HOWEVER I am dedicated to my project and to help as many local charities as I can. 

You can find out more info about what I'm providing to local charities here:

https://www.emcphotography.biz/post/roadtrip4charity