The sun is finally coming out and so we thought what better way to celebrate summer and promote good mental health than a steps challenge. The UKI Customer Success team will be challenged throughout the month of June to walk the equivalent distance around Great Britain! This will be tracked and logged by counting daily steps or time done exercising. We will be raising funds and awareness for the mental health charity 'Mind' with the hope of improving our own mental health through exercise and fresh air. Please feel free to join or share the challenge!

Nearly two in three people (63%) with existing mental health problems say their mental health and wellbeing has got worse during the pandemic. Cycling and keeping active has huge benefits for our mental health, reduces stress, generates endorphins that helps relax your mind, boosts your mood and reduces your feelings of anxiety. On August 21st we are Cycling 450 miles, climbing 17,000 feet, taking 1 ferry all in 6 days and supporting 2 amazing charities, why don't you join us? Lots of ways to take part and raise some much needed money for Macmillan Cancer Support and Mind UK. Want to join us or just say informed ? Register now and we will collect a small bit of info and then add you to the Cycle 4 Life webex space so you don't miss a thing! What's Driving Us? Before Christmas 2018 Anastasia a friend and colleague excitedly went on maternity leave, on 19th December 2019 gave birth to her healthy baby boy Mark. With 1 month left of her maternity leave and just before Marks first birthday, we were all shocked to learn Anastasia had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was embarking on a 6-month treatment and battle back to full health. As we all know in March 2020 the UK and world went into lock down and in May 2020 the sad news, we had all be dreading came through. Anastasia had very sadly lost her fight with cancer, leaving her husband Mark and 18-month-old son Mark. This ride is in memory of Anastasia Cathcart, a special friend and a wonderful colleague whom we had the pleasure to know for only 5 short years. As a team we shared many fond memories together and her passing has left a huge void not only in our office but also in our lives. We want to dedicate this bike ride to her memory and pay our respect to her when we were unable to do so during the UK lockdown 1.0.

Were hoping to move mountains and take the summit as per Everest Challenge. As when living through mental health issues it can feel like an uphill battle. (Everest Challenge was to overcome 288.000 steps in order to scale all 3 faces of Everest per 5 man team) I propose we aim to conquer 300k steps as many times as we can as a group collecting donations as we go to help raise awareness for The Mental Health Issue Globally that the pandemic has brought even more need to focus on.