A DERBY special school is set to benefit from the epic fundraising efforts of a local man as he prepares for a charity football match and the Virgin London Marathon.
Twenty-three-year-old Jak Walker, a healthcare assistant at the Priory Hospital; a psychiatric establishment which specialises in treating patients with schizophrenia, personality disorders, psychosis and depression, is aiming to raise £2,000 for mental health charity Mind by completing the London Marathon in April.
But first, Jak and a group of friends – who will go by the name of Every Mind Matters FC – will take on SEN United – a side representing St Giles School, in Hampshire Road – in a charity football match.
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Proceeds from the match, which will be held at Eastwood Town’s ground, will be split between Mind and St Giles; Derby’s only special primary school, which is part of the Spencer Academy Trust of Schools.
St Giles has a several projects which it is currently raising funds for, including a revamp of their sensory room.
Sensory play helps a child improve their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and body and spatial awareness. There are several physical, educational and emotional benefits for youngsters with special educational needs.
“It is a massive honour to be helping St Giles School continue their work in inspiring a generation,” said Jak, “the school prides itself in helping pupils to believe that anything is possible and provides them with essential life skills.
“I hope that the money raised from the football match can help fundraise future projects at St Giles, raise money for new equipment for the school to continue their long-term sustainability.”
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The match, which will take place on Sunday, March 1 (7pm), comes a month before Derby County and Nottingham Forest go head-to-head in the Championship grudge match at Pride Park Stadium.
“There has been a lot of banter between the two sides,” said Jak, “I’m a Nottingham Forest supporter, while a lot of the SEN United players are Derby fans; I guess you could say that this is a warm-up for the big game at Pride Park in April.”
Jak, a season ticket holder at the City Ground, is a huge sports fan and has always been active.
However, several injuries – including a fractured ankle and an operation to repair ligament damage to his right knee – have meant that he’s spent more time on the sidelines over the past 18 months than he would have liked.
This has had an impact on his mental wellbeing and Jak is keen to put his struggles behind him. On April 26, Jak will take part in the London Marathon, where he will be running for mental health charity Mind.
“I chose to run for Mind for several reasons,” he said, “firstly, I have close friends and immediate family who have struggled with their mental health over the last decade.
“Most have suffered with depression and anxiety and have turned to Mind for support and guidance. I attribute their survival today to the help which they received from this incredible charity and for that, I am forever in their gratitude.
“Secondly, I see patients come to the Priory Hospital for support with a range of mental health issues. It’s a challenging but highly rewarding job and the sense of pride you get when one of your patients is discharged – having benefitted from the support which you have given them – is incredible.
“However, my job has only highlighted the increasing demand for me on mental health services. An increasing number of people don’t know where to turn to in a crisis and that has resulted in attempted suicide.
“This is where Mind comes in for me; they provide support and guidance to help alleviate these pressures. If they can encourage or arrange an individual to seek professional support, then that’s fantastic.
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“I’m aiming to raise at least £2,000 for Mind. This could help provide 20 people struggling with mental health a place in a 10-week wellbeing group. I hope that the money I raise can be transformational in the lives of an individual who is struggling.
“I have had my own battles with mental wellbeing in recent years, which started when a catalogue of injuries hampered my involvement in sport.
“I felt like, at times, my main passion had been ripped away and the rehabilitation process was lengthy.
“But now I feel in a position to put my struggles behind me and engage in a mammoth challenge and raise money for two incredible causes in the mean time.”
Clive Lawrence, executive head at St Giles School, said: “We are very fortunate here at St Giles to have so many supporters and we applaud Jak for his fundraising efforts.
“Our PTA also work extremely hard and we’re grateful for what they do. They make a fantastic contribution to the school and I know that David Martins has put a lot of time into making the charity football match a huge success.”
To make a donation, please visit virginmoneygiving.com/JakWalker
ENDS
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