TEAMS at a Basingstoke college joined forces last week to raise awareness of mental health in young children and students by setting an ambitious target.

The wellbeing team came together with sports centre staff, students and members at Queen Mary’s College (QMC) to take part in the national BRIT Challenge. It sees colleges and universities try to achieve 2,022 in a sporting activity to raise £2,022 worth of sponsorship.

This was a huge endeavour, but with the amazing facilities on site at QMC, the wellbeing team joined forces with the QMC Sports Centre and the challenge was set.

Over the week commencing February 14 those who took part clocked every step, kilometre and metre they did and it was tracked and converted to miles by Shellie Rashbrook from the QMC wellbeing team and Troy Mack-Mellor from QMC Sports Centre.

The gym was busy with all the new equipment showing what it was made of including spin bikes, treadmills, rowing machines, step machines and cross trainers all pounding away to get to the end goal.

Students encouraged each other to take part, making mini competitions to see who could bank the most miles and staff were using their lunch breaks to do a quick run or cycle.

A highlight was seeing Foundation Learning students come over most days, as part of their lesson. One student managed to secure 10 miles, which was an incredible achievement.

On Thursday afternoon the college were at 1,724 miles, when the news broke that Storm Eunice was potentially going to close the facility. So, the decision was made to make a huge push to bank as many miles as they could.

Thanks to the huge efforts of the sports centre members that evening, the college were able to make the target and a little extra finishing on 2,350 miles.

The college raised a substantial amount and thanks has been given to those who donated, particularly to Andrew Modle from Aims Accounts for Business and Claire Blanchflower and Able2Let Property Management Ltd.

To donate to the college’s fundraiser, go to GoFundMe and search QMC’s 2,022 miles for the BRIT Challenge. The page remains open for donations.

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Kimberley Barber