As the month of May draws to a close, Nub News would like to honour the more than 150 participants that ran, walked, swam, cycled and danced their way to 100 miles in the month of May.

With Mental Health Awareness Week falling in May, which also happens to be National Walking Month, the 100 miles challenge offered a perfect combination of the two.

Richmond Mind is an independently funded charity supporting over 4,600 people each year across the borough who are struggling with their mental health and is dedicated to preventing people from reaching crisis point and reducing pressure on the NHS.

The charity has put forward the 100 miles in May initiative before but only around 20 participants showed interest, making this year's campaign the most successful yet.

Suzanne Lynn, Business Development Manager at Richmond Mind and former frontline worker said: "We've never managed to capture this many people. This is a real game changer for us. I think everybody is really keen to do something for their own well-being and it really demonstrates great community spirit".

"It just kind of snowballed and became a really big event. We feel like we've gone viral and it's just really nice that it's being embraced."

Participants can complete the miles on their own terms and within their own time frame, making it accessible to many.

Lynn said: "Everybody's doing it in their own way. That's part of the design, It's flexible. You can really make it work for you".

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Lynn is also a participant in the challenge and has noticed a positive difference in herself since the beginning.

"I feel better, I feel stronger. I swim quite a lot and I'm noticing I'm a little bit faster in the pool because I'm doing more miles on land".

She said that as a result of the campaign, people have recognised how hard it is to fit in the extra time to complete the miles which provides an opportunity to reflect on things like lifestyle and work-life balance.

Initiatives like these are vital to spark a conversation about mental health in a busy and fast moving world where, according to National Mind, one in four adults experience a diagnosable mental health condition at any time.

Lynn said: "Life is getting faster and more pressurised and we're basically in a race to keep up with that".

"There have been massive changes over the last decade but there is still a lot of stigma associated with mental health. That's what makes people reluctant to acknowledge it in themselves or others, or ask for help and that's what we have really got to focus on".

She explained that many view mental ill health as a weakness when in reality, the opposite is true and the people that struggle are often those with great personal strength that have taken on more, pushed themselves further and juggled more things, where others may have given up.

"We all have mental health, it fluctuates within everybody and a diagnosis isn't a limiting factor at all", Lynn added.

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Previously to her current role at Richmond Mind, Lynn used to work in frontline services in a 'journey recovery hub' which stood as a 24/7 alternative to A&E for those in crisis.

"I still have some of the thank you letters and notes from people and someone said 'you have saved my life'. When you hear that, there's no doubting the importance of what we're doing. It is literally life saving and life changing work".

"It's a real privilege to hear people's stories and it's good for the soul to know that you've done something that's helped somebody".

BPCE Equipment Solutions UK, partnered with Richmond Borough Mind this year and has 22 teams of four completing the challenge, each team aiming to raise £200 for the cause.

Kate Marsh, CSR Manager at BPCE Equipment Solutions has exceeded her 100 miles, reaching over 120 miles through physical activity that includes climbing Mount Snowdon.

"I've been much more aware of taking time out to go for a walk," Marsh said. "It's a conscious decision to go and do something positive for me, knowing that it's also raising money for a really great cause."

"Some people at BPCE have used it to kick start a healthier lifestyle or spend more time with their kids. It's definitely created a conversation and I think that in itself is really impactful.

"We live in a world of remote work where face to face conversations can be few and far between and so whether you're talking to a professional or just your mate, these informal conversations are vital."

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Kate recognised the importance of local community driven charities and their services.

She said: "Richmond Mind are not a faceless charity, they know the area, the community and that is important in making people feel comfortable enough to ask for help".

At around 3 miles a day, 100 miles a month is no easy feat, and Kate revealed how daunting it can feel, even as a relatively active person.

"The 100 miles in itself feels really achievable but actually, if you miss a couple of days then it adds up and it can be quite overwhelming."

"When we were recruiting people at BPCE to do this, the message was to do your best. There are no losers here. The intention is the important thing - raising awareness and raising money."

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