06/06 - Support Tony McKenzie on His Walk to Raise Money for SANELINE!

Tony McKenzie, father of two, who lives in Hackney East London will be part of a small team hoping to raise £26,500 for SANE which provides a vital service to people affected by mental health issues, by raising awareness, campaigning and perhaps most importantly, by supporting callers via a helpline called SANELINE.

Tony, a past member of LCGC has dedicated his live to saving others working previously for Childline and other social justice projects. Now working for SANELINE as a helpline Co-ordinator, Tony has first hand experience of how much callers rely on the service for support when nowhere else is available. He would really appreciate any help you could offer for his fundraising endeavours.

Imagine blisters, cramps, pulled muscles, breathlessness, altitude sickness and general excruciating pain - as well as the strong possibility of "stomach problems" and insect bites in unmentionable places. Why would anyone volunteer to put themselves through such torture?

Nevertheless, in September 2006, Tony will be donning his walking boots and trekking the Inca Trail in Peru; walking for up to 12 hours a day and up to a height of 4200m above sea level through many deep gullies and on relentless and treacherously steep trails.

Sounds tough, doesn't it? But that's nothing compared to what 1 in 4 of us will suffer at some point in our lifetimes.  The challenges he will face on this expedition don't really compare - physical traumas are often easier to treat and deal with then emotional and mental ones, and they are rarely subject to the same stigma.

Tony's fundraising target (£3000) will cover the cost of recruiting and training 3 volunteers to answer around 1500 calls every year. These highly trained SANELINE volunteers will improve hundreds more lives and prevent many needless deaths.

He needs your help, so please sponsor him NOW and help support as many people as possible affected by mental illness.

Here are a few words from just one of the callers that SANELINE has helped:

'I have found myself using SANELINE more and more, when I have really been at my wits end...The helpline volunteers have always been reassuring and patient and I will forever be grateful to them for keeping me going.'

Now the science bit...

Every donation will bring him closer to reaching his goal. Donating through his web page www.justgiving.com/tonymckenzie is simple, fast and totally secure. SANE will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

For more information checkout www.sane.org.uk