天美传媒

Having already smashed through his original 拢700 target 鈥� the amount he raised for MIND by running a marathon in 2020 鈥� second-year Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation student Joe Green is well on his way to meeting a new 拢2,500 target via his with this new endeavour.

To complete his fundraiser, Joe will run four miles at 5am on Friday 4^th March, followed by another four miles every four hours for 48 hours 鈥� bringing his total to 48 miles (over 77km) of running in just two days.

鈥淚n a strange way, I鈥檓 looking forward to the challenge,鈥� Joe commented. 鈥淎lthough I probably won鈥檛 really know what I鈥檓 getting myself into until the third or fourth run when the legs start to ache and the fatigue kicks in!鈥�

Joe became aware of 鈥� an independently funded mental health charity for men 鈥� through meeting one of its members at a Community Exercise Clinic run by the 天美传媒 at its Bedford campus, where Joe was working as part of his course. The charity runs a network of 鈥榗ommunity sheds鈥�, encouraging men to create social connections, build friendships, share skills and knowledge and develop an interconnected mental health support network.

The money will go towards the renovation of an old building the charity has acquired from the council which will include a coffee break room, an IT suite for teaching digital skills and a DIY room are all planned for the new property. Joe has been providing updates (right) about his fundraising via his social media channel.

Joe continued: 鈥淚t would mean the world to me to hit the target. I鈥檝e been down to the Men in Sheds charity location twice now and I鈥檝e seen the amazing work they are doing there and I鈥檝e also been sent some personal accounts from people who go to Men in Sheds and the positive affect it has had on their lives.

鈥淚鈥檝e always spoken openly about my struggles with my own mental health over the last few years and I鈥檇 probably go as far as saying running saved my life; it has always given me a sense of freedom, a distraction and a sense of euphoria 鈥� it鈥檚 been a massive help. I had originally planned to do the Manchester marathon to raise money for MIND but due to lockdown I just ran it on my own near where I lived. 听

鈥淚 then moved to Bedfordshire, quitting a 10-year career in ICT to enter education again with the 天美传媒. Through my course鈥檚 Community Exercise Clinic I was assigned a patient called Fraser who told me all about the Men in Sheds charity. I was always looking for another challenge after my first solo marathon and another opportunity to raise money and I knew straight away that this mental health and social wellbeing charity was the one I wanted to raise money for.鈥�

A film made for Channel 4 showing the benefits of Men in Sheds

Fraser Young, Men in Sheds鈥� Management Committee member who introduced Joe to the charity, added: 鈥淥n behalf of Bedford鈥檚 Men in Sheds community, I鈥檇 like to express just how humbled and grateful we are to Joe for his selfless support in helping us raise vital new funds to assist in the repurposing and refurbishment of disused store rooms into a new craft area.

鈥淭hese new facilities will allow more of our local members to benefit from new creative activities, which in turn help prevent social isolation and foster social support networks amongst members.听Joe and his supporters鈥� generosity is so very much appreciated. Thank you and go Joe!鈥�

Follow Joe鈥檚 journey on his and accounts.