Mental Elf Lancashire 2024

Mental Elf is back for 2024!

This year we’re bigger and better in our new home at Worden Park, Leyland.

Lancashire Mind’s annual flagship event is back for another year. This time we are shaking things up with a new venue and some different route options.

You’ll be able to take part in our usual Mini Elf 2k and our Mental Elf 5k but this year we are adding a Challenge Your sElf route. You are of course welcome to run 10k (the course will stay open for 2 hours) or you can hop, skip or jump the route. Everyone who enters will receive one of our sustainable medals and finishers goody bags.

Take part with a friend, conga your way around with your footy team, you can even walk on on your hands… But this is your way to challenge yourself, do something fun and raise vital funds for Lancashire Mind at the same time. We’d love you to share your ideas with us too so please get in touch.

What’s on:

Worden Park, Leyland – Saturday 30th of November

• Mental Elf 5k – 10.30am
• Challenge your S’Elf – 10.35am (Wave 2)
• Mini Elf 2k – 12.30pm

Family Fun Activities

In addition to the run, there will be a variety of activities for families to enjoy: 

• Face Painting and Craft Stations: Children can get their faces painted and create holiday crafts, including reindeer food making, adding to the joyful atmosphere. 

• Elf Relay Races and Obstacle Courses: Engage in fun-filled races and challenges designed for all ages. 

• Live Music and Dance Performances: Enjoy live entertainment from local bands and dance groups, bringing festive cheer to all attendees. 

• Festive boosts along the route: We’ll have our jingle bells at the ready and high fives galore to cheer you along!  

• Best Dressed Dog Competition: Surely it’s worth popping a festive jumper or elf ears on your best fur friend for your chance to win fabulous prizes (for them)! 
• Best Dressed Elf: This isn’t a time to be shy, go all out… Everyone else does, including all our Lancashire Mind staff and volunteers.  

Whilst we endeavor to make the event as low cost as possible for our attendees, all donations come directly to Lancashire Mind and go towards supporting the vital work we so in the community. Therefore a donation for each activity would be greatly appreciated.

Support from our local businesses

The event is being backed by several sponsors, led by Preston-based SPAR wholesaler James Hall & Co. Ltd as the headline sponsor once again. 

Philippa Harrington, Marketing Manager at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: “We are delighted to be headline sponsor of Lancashire Mind’s Mental Elf Fun Run as it neatly aligns to SPAR’s brand values of Passionate About Local and Nurture Our Neighbourhoods. 

“Mental Elf is a fantastic community event that brings Lancashire Mind’s work to life. While dressed up as a fun day out for all the family in the run up to Christmas, it gets people active and socialising and raises hugely important funds that support better mental health for people who live and work in Lancashire.” 

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Lisa Kennery, director at Blackburn accountancy firm Pierce, who are sponsoring the medals, said: “We are proud to be medal sponsor for the Lancashire Mind Mental Elf event for the third year running because we recognise that mental health is just as important as physical health. Supporting this event allows us to champion the cause of mental well-being within our community, while encouraging everyone to take steps, both literally and figuratively, towards a healthier mind.” 

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A spokesman for start/finish line sponsor Essential Industrial Services said: “It’s always a great event to participate in and support Lancashire Mind and Mental Elf. As a local business, we believe it is important to support Lancashire, and Mental Elf always provides an excellent opportunity to raise funds while having fun!” 

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Tom Smith, CEO at Complete., an award-winning digital marketing agency based in Blackpool, said: “We are so pleased to sponsor the route at Mental Elf this year. We recognise the importance of mental health and Lancashire Mind is an incredible charity that we are proud to support. A few members of the team will be taking part in the event to help raise vital funds and awareness.” 

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Marsden Rawsthorn solicitors, based in Preston and Chorley, are sponsoring two of the KM marker points.

Solicitor apprentice Ellie Cliffe said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to sponsor Mental Elf this year! “Wellbeing in the workplace is vital to the success of a business and, through our support of Lancashire Mind and our in-house initiatives, our offices are happy, enjoyable places to be.”

And Katy Rider, senior associate solicitor, said: “The role of a solicitor is often perceived as stressful, juggling deadlines and working on complex matters. At Marsden Rawsthorn, we are combatting this stereotype by prioritizing staff mental wellbeing and supporting local charities such as Lancashire Mind.”

About the event

Mental Elf is a fun run with the emphasis on fun – we have a variety of route options for all ages. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned runner or prefer a stroll in the park, the event is for everyone, with the Challenge your S’Elf option if you’d like a bit more of a challenge.

It’s about coming together with your local community, to do something that’s good for you, whilst giving something back by helping to raise vital funds for Lancashire Mind. You’ll be connecting with others, doing some physical activity, spending some time in nature and getting the feel-good factor of supporting your local mental health charity – all things that help to boost your own mental wellbeing. As well as the fun runs we have indoor activities so there’s something for your friends and family to do whilst they’re waiting to cheer you over the finish line.

This years’ sustainable medal can also be repurposed as a lovely tree decoration too… win win!