Two-hour NCS bike ride raises money for Coastal West Sussex Mind

Teenagers from Worthing had aching legs and big smiles last Tuesday as they spent two straight hours cycling to raise money for a mental health support charity.
NCS Group Sponsored Bike Ride.

National Citizens Service (NCS) group of 15 teenagers from Worthing are doing a sponsored bike ride to raise money and awareness of mental health and Mind charity. 

Pictured are teenagers with Cameron Sommerford ( Team Leader) and Katy Beswetherick (Team Assistant). 

Ocean Fitness, Worthing, West Sussex. 

Picture:Liz Pearce 21/08/2018

LP181272 SUS-180821-200224008NCS Group Sponsored Bike Ride.

National Citizens Service (NCS) group of 15 teenagers from Worthing are doing a sponsored bike ride to raise money and awareness of mental health and Mind charity. 

Pictured are teenagers with Cameron Sommerford ( Team Leader) and Katy Beswetherick (Team Assistant). 

Ocean Fitness, Worthing, West Sussex. 

Picture:Liz Pearce 21/08/2018

LP181272 SUS-180821-200224008
NCS Group Sponsored Bike Ride. National Citizens Service (NCS) group of 15 teenagers from Worthing are doing a sponsored bike ride to raise money and awareness of mental health and Mind charity. Pictured are teenagers with Cameron Sommerford ( Team Leader) and Katy Beswetherick (Team Assistant). Ocean Fitness, Worthing, West Sussex. Picture:Liz Pearce 21/08/2018 LP181272 SUS-180821-200224008

The group of 15 were raising money as part of their social action project for National Citizen Service and have so far collected more than £200 for Coastal West Sussex Mind.

Team member Skylar Austin said: “We chose Coastal West Sussex Mind because people in our group have family members who suffer from mental health issues and we wanted to make a difference for them.”

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A representative from the charity visited the group to discuss what support it can provide and how it helps people with various mental health issues.

Skylar said: “It was heart-warming to hear how our money and fundraising can help people.”

Group members found it was quite challenging to cycle for two hours without a break but they all managed to complete the task at Ocean Fitness, in Dominion Road, Worthing, with air conditioning and fans providing considerable help.

The team has also been raising money through activities including a sponsored rock climb and a charity sponge throw, which raised around £50 on its own.

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An open mic night at Worthing Leisure Centre in Shaftesbury Avenue last Friday rounded off their week of fundraising, providing a fun ending to their social action projects.

National Citizen Service is a four-week programme for teenagers aged 15 to 17, and the team spent the first week at an activity centre, where a few members of the group struggled with the high ropes. This lead to them choosing to take on a sponsored rock climb, as they knew it would be difficult.

They then spent a week at the University of Brighton, listening to talks about dementia, Tourette’s and mental health problems.

Skylar said: “Fundraising as part of National Citizen Service is the best thing I have done. It has been great getting involved in the community.

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“We hope to spread and raise awareness for mental health as well as fundraising for our local Mind charity, so they can have more funding for their amazing services.”

An open mic night at Worthing Leisure Centre, in Shaftesbury Avenue, on Friday will be their final fundraising effort.

For £2 entry, visitors can enjoy the evening from 5pm to 8pm, and under tens go free. There will be a raffle with restaurant vouchers up for grabs, and all money raised will go towards the fund for Coastal West Sussex Mind.

To sponsor the group’s charity efforts, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/georgia-westbury

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