Mike Geary, Head of City in the Community, has ran 14 ultra-marathons in the same number of days across the Camino de Santiago trail.
The route started on April 21 in St Jean Pied de Port, France and finished in Santiago de Compostela, Spain on May 4 – covering a total of 500 miles!
Mike completed the challenge with three of his close friends, who have all selected their own charities.
City in the Community, Murdered Abroad and Macmillan Cancer Support will all benefit from an equal share of the profits, with CITC’s total supporting its mental health programme, City Thrive.
The three friends have raised over £11,000 so far, but you can still support online at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/camino-500.
Here are some moments from their epic 500-mile journey.
City Thrive, which is delivered in partnership with the NHS, was launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The project harnesses the power of football to help provide support for thousands of people aged up to 25.
A dedicated team has developed a mental health curriculum, blending specially adapted football sessions with one-to-one mentoring and group workshops on mental health awareness, to improve mental wellbeing.
Additionally, specific mental health themed football sessions will be delivered from youth clubs across Manchester, enabling participants to enjoy physical activity whilst also accessing the benefits of one-to-one mentoring and group workshops.
City Thrive was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Manchester, the long-term impact on children’s mental health was highlighted as a major concern amongst carers and parents.
To find out more, click here.
