Reflex's 111-Mile Walk for Mind Mental Health Charity

At Reflex, supporting mental health is close to our hearts. Back in August 2020, we introduced a team of Mental Health Champions, reinforcing our commitment to mental health with enhanced initiatives in the workplace. To further demonstrate our commitment and raise funds, Charlie along with other Reflex staff undertook an ambitious 111-mile walk from Mind HQ in London to Reflex HQ in Loughborough during Mental Health Awareness Week, 13th-17th May.

Mental Health Ambassador, Charlie Cavers along with the Health & Safety and Marketing teams, spent months meticulously planning the walk. Every detail was covered, from selecting the routes to ensuring an ample supply of all-important snacks—because everyone knows you can't conquer a marathon without a good snack stash to fuel the journey!

Day 1: London to St Albans (26.2 Miles)

The walk commenced at Mind HQ in London, with spirits high as Charlie and Claire Thorpe, Technical Services Administrator set off on the first leg to St Albans. Covering a marathon distance of 26.2 miles, the day presented its challenges early on. Unfortunately, Claire had to stop halfway due to medical reasons, but Charlie persevered, completing the day's walk solo at around 4:50pm. With regular check-ins from Nik Malyon, who followed the team in a welfare vehicle stocked with essentials such as blister patches and protein bars, Charlie remained supported and safe.

Day 2: St Albans to Milton Keynes (28.2 Miles)

On the second day, Operations Director Martin joined Charlie, taking on the 28.2-mile stretch to Milton Keynes. The weather turned, bringing rain that made the walk slightly more demanding due to sodden ground and tall grass. This route was the hilliest, blisters started to arise for both Charlie and Martin. Despite the wet conditions, they pushed through and reached Milton Keynes.

Day 3: Milton Keynes to Lutterworth (28.2 Miles)

The third day saw Sales Support Executive and Account Manager Priya joining Charlie. Priya came prepared with all the essentials: foot masks, walking boots, breathable socks, sugary snacks, and baby powder. The route from Milton Keynes to Lutterworth was the most scenic, featuring fields of cows, sheep, and horses. By the end of the day, they reached Leicestershire around 5pm in high spirits, excited for the final stretch.

Day 4: Lutterworth to Loughborough (27.9 Miles)

For the final day, Sales Director and co-owner Lisa joined Charlie for the 27.9-mile walk from Lutterworth to Loughborough. The day started wet and foggy, adding to the challenge. Despite the miserable weather, the team's morale remained high. They returned to Reflex HQ around 3pm, welcomed by a cheering crowd of colleagues, friends, and family lining the finish line. The pouring rain didn’t dampen the spirits as Charlie completed this monumental journey.

A Heartfelt Thank You

This incredible journey wouldn't have been possible without the support of our generous sponsors: Kwik Fit, MK Fleet Maintenance, RSS Infrastructure, Neat Carpet Cleaning, Complete Vehicle Accessories, and Westcross Environmental . We would also like to extend our thanks to The Caley Group, who produced the team’s printed t-shirts. Your contributions and encouragement have made a significant impact on our efforts to support Mind and promote mental health awareness. We also want to extend a big thank you to everyone else who sponsored the team—your backing has been invaluable in making this event a success and in championing mental health.

At Reflex, we believe in making a difference, both within our organisation  and in the broader community. This walk represents our commitment to mental health, demonstrating the strength and resilience of our team and the importance of supporting those who need it most. Thank you to everyone who walked, supported, and donated – together, we are making strides for mental health.

Oh, and in case anyone wondered, Charlie’s total step count was 215,868 (however her watch did run out of battery a few times!)

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