AN EMPLOYEE at Specsavers Flint has raised £650 for North East Wales Mind after completing the Chester Half Marathon on Sunday.
Coinciding with Mental Health Awareness Week (12 – 18 May), the 13-mile run took dispensing optician Dawn Dale 1 hour and 52 minutes, raising vital funds for the charity, which supports people living with mental health challenges across Flintshire and Wrexham.
Out of 189 runners in the over-50’s category, Ms Dale placed fourteenth.
Colleagues at Specsavers Flint were there to cheer Ms Dale on along the route and supported her fundraising efforts in the lead-up to the race day. A store bake sale raised more than £260, helping Ms Dale surpass her fundraising target of £500 weeks ahead of the event.
Having faced her own mental health challenges, Ms Dale says running has played a big part in her journey towards recovery following a particularly difficult period during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ms Dale says: ‘Running became a real turning point for me. It’s something that helps me feel grounded and gives me a sense of purpose. Taking on this half marathon felt like a way to give something back and to raise awareness that support is out there for anyone who’s struggling.’
Specsavers Flint’s retail director, Holly Roberts, adds: ‘We’re all incredibly proud of Dawn, both for the physical feat of completing the marathon and for her courage in sharing her story.
‘She’s inspired our whole team and brought the store together for a cause that affects so many. We’re grateful to everyone in the community who donated or came by the store to support her.’
