They saddled up with a goal of raising £20,000, then £55,000, then they passed the £90,000 before they’d dismounted. But now, seven months after the 12-strong Kelly’s Heroes cycling challenge team completed their 1,000-mile epic ride, the final total has passed £130,000 for the We Mind & Kell Matters charity.

And now the achievement means the charity founded by Glazerite chairman John Hewitt has been able to roll out extra initiatives including a live text chat service for people in mental health crisis and community support in Northamptonshire’s schools and workplaces.

“We are immensely grateful to everyone who supported us on the challenge, from the donations and sponsorship through to the well wishes and messages we received on our journey,” John said this week, announcing the final tally of £130,267.56, “It shows how big-hearted, caring and generous this industry is.

“We’re so overwhelmed and delighted to have been able to raise so much and to be able to put it all towards educating people on mental health issues and suicide prevention.”

Donations and sponsorship flooded in from across the fenestration industry and beyond, including support from headline sponsor Veka, as well as All Things Business, Anglo European Group, Benchmark Kitchens and Joinery, Business Micros, Blinds in Glass, Central RPL, Dufeu IT Solutions, Fountains Complimentary Therapies, Grosvenor Group, Glazerite, Haffner, Hevey Building Supplies, Independent Network, HiTech Blinds, Maypine Civils, Mews Windows, Snowdon Homes, Travis Perkins and Transformation for Life. 

Glazerite supplier Doorco also threw its weight behind We Mind & Kelly Matters with a number of initiatives, including its Pink Door campaign. 20% of all door blanks sold from the four-door range, which have been created in Kelly’s favourite colour, are being donated to We Mind & Kelly Matters, with over £350 donated so far. In addition, Doorco’s founders Jayne and Dan Sullivan’s 12-year-old son Raf has undertaken a 117km run and cycle challenge to raise money for We Mind & Kelly Matters. 

John concluded “We’ve got some amazing events coming up including a World Record attempt, so watch this space!”

Raf, who has already raised over £10,000, can be sponsored at: 

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/RafsTriptoWales

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