Fundraising stories

Rotary Club of Cuckfield, Lindfield and Haywards Heath raises over £12,500

Inspired by the Rotary-Bipolar UK partnership to raise awareness of bipolar, Rotarians and friends from the Rotary Club of Cuckfield, Lindfield and Haywards Heath (RCCLHH) embarked on a Pole to Pole challenge across the South Downs in August 2023. Beginning in Amberley, our long-distance walkers endured walking a half marathon in heavy rain to Upper Beeding, where sunshine emerged, and our fair-weather walkers joined the team. Simultaneously several other members of the club walked whilst on holiday abroad. It was a fabulous team effort, and we collectively walked over 300km with four of our team walking a full marathon. This was only the beginning of our journey - club members continued to walk, cycle and run until World Bipolar Day 2024 when we collectively travelled an amazing ~13,000 km, with enthusiastic cyclist Mike Oliver contributing a phenomenal 9700km. We had collectively travelled two thirds of the distance from the north to south pole and were top of the Pole to Pole Leaderboard. Through our Pole to Pole sponsorship we raised over £6000 which resulted in the establishment of an online local peer support group for Haywards Heath, Mid Sussex and Crawley.

In Mental Health Awareness week, May 2024 our Rotary Club partnered with the Greater Haywards Heath Bike Ride. We are delighted that Bipolar UK was selected as a charity to support. Cheered on by Adam Deacon, Bipolar UK Ambassador & BAFTA-award winning actor, over 300 riders each cycled distances from 12 - 74 miles across the Sussex countryside. Through the amazing sponsors of the Bike Ride, we were able to donate over £6500 to Bipolar UK.

We are delighted and proud that these funds have enabled the local online support group to transition in to an in-person support group commencing September 2024.

NE Rotary walks for World Bipolar Day

North East Rotary clubs and Bipolar UK joined forces to raise awareness, vital funds and support for people affected by bipolar across the region.

To mark World Bipolar Day (30 March 2024) the Rotary Bipolar eClub, chaired by Bipolar UK’s CEO, Simon Kitchen took on an epic walking challenge. Simon was joined by Jeremy Clark, Rotary Bipolar eClub member and Bipolar UK trustee, and Jeremy’s wife, Daisy.

They walked just under 200km, the equivalent of 9.5 half marathons, across 9.5 days to reflect the 9.5 years it takes to get a diagnosis of bipolar in the UK.

Rotary clubs across the North East and Bipolar UK supporters took part in the walk and helped raise awareness in their local area.

The walk

The trio set off from outside Durham Cathedral on Wednesday 20 March, on St. Cuthbert’s Day, and arrived at the finish line in Holy Island on Saturday 30 March, World Bipolar Day. Saint Cuthbert is often called the patron saint of the North of England, where he notably had a long journey to his final resting place along this route. 
 
This event highlighted bipolar awareness as a priority in the North East, whilst signposting to and raising funds for new Bipolar UK peer support groups in the area. The event also coincided with a 6-month poster awareness campaign in 60 GP surgeries across the North East.

Bipolar UK ambassador James Wade and the Pole to Pole challenge

Team Caz swam and raised £900

On 25 August 2023, around 30 of Caroline Hinchliffe’s friends and family took part in our Pole to Pole challenge to raise funds and awareness in Caroline’s name. Their aim was to swim 800 lengths (9.6km) but the enthusiasm was so great they swam 1000 lengths (12.5km) instead!

Swimmers from 1 to 72 got involved, with a special mention to 12-year old Flo who swam an impressive 100 lengths. 

The team raised about £900 for this event. You can support Team Caz’s incredible fundraising efforts here

Bipolar UK's CEO, Simon Kitchen walks 9.5km along Hadrian's Wall to launch the Pole to Pole challenge.

In Mental Health Awareness Week in May, Bipolar UK's CEO Simon Kitchen launched the Pole to Pole challenge by walking 9.5km along Hadrian's Wall to represent the average number of years it takes for someone to get a diagnosis of bipolar.

Watch Bipolar UK's CEO, Simon Kitchen, alongside trustee Jeremy Clark and his wife Daisy, walk 195km in 9.5 days to close the 'Pole to Pole' challenge

Blackpool Peer Support Group created a wonderful fundraising challenge, Bootiful Soles, during the pandemic and raised £1134 for Bipolar UK.

'Throughout the pandemic the Blackpool Peer Support Group worked as a team to support each other through the challenges of lockdown. Together through friendship, understanding, tears and laughter we adapted to a community online with regular Zoom groups and the bipolar eCommunity.' Member of Blackpool Peer Support Group

Thankful for their bipolar community during the Covid-19 pandemic, the facilitators of Bipolar UK’s Blackpool Peer Support Group, Lou and Andy, created a fun, fundraising challenge. The aim was to reduce isolation, get active outdoors and motivate the group to raise money for Bipolar UK as the charity means so much to them.

They created a ‘virtual Pan American Highway Walk’ challenge, crossing through Alaska, Canada, Mexico and South America. Every single step counted towards the goal of 15,039 miles – everything from walking the dog on the beach and shopping, to extra steps around the house.

Team Caz ran the Brighton Marathon in honour of their late friend and family member, Caroline Hinchliffe, who lived with bipolar. Brighton held special memories for them all and they were motivated to complete the challenge knowing that the funds they raised would help others affected by bipolar as Caroline had been.

The team were not only committed to training, they also wanted to raise as much money as possible. They did this by amplifying their message through JustGiving and social media and hosting a fundraising event for family and friends after the run. Team Caz got in touch with the team at Bipolar UK who were there to support them all the way – from providing t-shirts, resources and moral support to sharing their story on social media.

Through their dedication and determination, Team Caz managed to raise more than £10,000. Many of the team are now taking on individual fundraising activities and supporting the charity in other ways.

'Bipolar UK helped us all find some light in the darkness left by our amazing friend Caroline’s tragic death. Bipolar UK was totally on board with our marathon plans from the start, and guided us every step of the way on our fundraising journey. Crossing the marathon finish line in our Bipolar UK vests with Caroline’s name on the back was one of the proudest achievements of all our lives, a completely unforgettable experience'. Team Caz

Steve, raised £1,606 through innovative fundraising  

'I've had a diagnosis of Bipolar for 20 years and I decided that I wanted to do something for Bipolar UK. I needed something to catch people's attention. I bought myself an autograph book and set about phoning agents, tour managers, entertainment venues and movie premieres. It was hard work but with everybody I got to meet I took a selfie and collected an autograph in my book. Then, with 50 famous faces in the bag, ranging from Hollywood A listers, international sports stars, arena filling comedians, TV, and radio household names, I ran a social media campaign, releasing one selfie a day.

The social media campaign climbed on the profiles of the celebrities I met and, when all done, my autograph book and a few other gifts were auctioned off for Bipolar UK. 

My advice? Think of something unusual but something you'll enjoy doing and try to come up with an idea you can run with for a while. I found that the longer my campaign ran the more the interest grew, and with a fresh fascinating fact about bipolar every day to keep folks coming back.'

Alisha skydived for Bipolar UK and raised £520

Will ran the London Marathon for Bipolar UK and raised £821

Roxy ran the London Landmarks Half Marathon for Bipolar UK and raised £1,371

Alex and Katie Dolman donated £4,455 + GiftAid which totals £5,568.75 when they asked their wedding guests to donate to Bipolar UK instead of giving a gift.

'We wanted to do something that would mean a lot to my mother, Clare, and to thank her for all the support she has given us over the years. Due to her unwavering advocacy for the charity and for people who have been through the same experiences she had, a charitable donation via our wedding fund would not only provide financial support but also raise awareness of such a great organisation.' Alex

Alex is the son of former Bipolar UK Chair, Dr Clare Dolman