Mental Elf 2024: Our Best Year Yet!

400 Elves gather to support mental health in Leyland’s Worden Park!

There was pure Christmas joy on the faces of elves of all ages who took on a festive challenge to raise awareness and funds for mental health. 

Lancashire Mind’s 11th Mental Elf fun run was its biggest and best yet – a sell-out event with more than 400 people running and walking in aid of the mental charity, plus dozens more volunteering to make the day a huge success. 

And now the pennies have been counted, Lancashire Mind can announce that the event raised a fantastic £17,500. 

This amount of money allows Lancashire Mind to deliver, for example, its 10-week Bounce Forward resilience programme in eight schools, reaching more than 240 children with skills and strategies that they can carry with them throughout their lives, making them more likely to ‘bounce forward’ through tough times. 

On behalf of the entire team at Lancashire Mind, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the 400+ incredible participants who joined us for Mental Elf 2024! 

Your support, energy and commitment to raising awareness for mental health makes all the difference. Together, we’ve taken another important step towards breaking the stigma around mental health and promoting wellbeing for all in our community. We couldn’t have done it without you! 

Worden Hall became the hub of the event where people could enjoy music from the Worldwise Samba Drummers and BBC stars Jasmine and Gabriella T, plus lots of family friendly activities and a chance to meet Father Christmas. Pets also got in on the act in the best dressed dog competition. 

Lancashire Mind CEO David Dunwell said: “It was heart-warming day, full of community spirit and festive cheer, but with a serious aim to raise funds for mental health. 

“We are so grateful to everyone who bought a ticket and fundraised or donated to help us smash our target. The money raised goes directly to supporting Lancashire Mind’s life-changing mental health services. These funds help provide wellbeing coaching, support groups, and educational programmes to individuals and families in need of mental health support in our community.” 

Lancashire schools were also encouraged to host their own Mental Elf Wellbeing Challenge this year, whether that was a run, bake sale or dress up day, and also raised more than £1,000 in total. 

Save the date – Saturday 29th November 2025 for Mental Elf!