McCARTNEYS Estate Agents are proud to have supported Mind, the mental health charity by organising and completing a fundraising and awareness event on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal on September 24.

Over 40 participants took part in the event including mostly McCartneys' employees, alongside seven volunteers from Mind themselves and two others from Gabbs Solicitors. The event was to cycle the full length of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal which ran alongside a seven mile walk. The cycle route started in Pontymoile and finished at the basin by the Brecon Theatre, with the walkers starting in Talybont-on-Usk and finishing at the same point. Approximately 35 miles in length the canal runs through the beautiful Brecon Beacons countryside, passing through around 120 bridges and six locks.

McCartneys are at the very heart of the communities it serves, whether it's selling people's homes or making sure they get the right level of grants for their farm. Spanning five counties and two countries, many of the areas served are rural or semi-rural.

We all know how important good mental health is wherever we live. It's a particularly important issue in the rural areas where, unlike the perception that living in the country is a seemingly idyllic life, it can be anything but for some people. Pressures caused by job insecurity combined with isolation and unwillingness to talk means that people living in rural and semi-rural areas with mental health concerns can find themselves feeling alone with a lack of services to support them.

McCartneys have chosen to support Mind as its charity this year to ensure that no one feels alone. As a team, they will be fundraising for the mental health charity and will be holding special events within the communities they serve to spread the message that no one is alone and that help and support is available to everyone.

Rob Fearnley, who organised the event and is the manager of the Hay-on-Wye office, said "It was a great day and fantastic achievement to complete. The day ran pretty smoothly and we were lucky enough to have some nice weather. No-one fell into the canal which always helps and everyone had a fabulous time in helping support Mind".

Rob continued "The cycling event started at 10am and took around three and an half hours to complete and the walkers set of at 11am before reaching the finish point two and an half hours later. We had employees from across our region taking part and it was a real privilege to show off the beautiful countryside we live in. All our branches throughout our region have been fundraising for the event and we are excited to find out how much we have managed to raise for the charity. We are continuing to collect monies from sponsorship and of course people are still welcome to donate if you wish to support us, we want to raise as much money as possible for Mind".

Val Walker, service director of Brecon and District Mind, said, "It's fantastic that a local business, such as McCartneys, have chosen Mind as their charity this year and have done such wonderful local fundraising event along the canal. We were delighted that this event was well attended and was very successful as they have obviously put a lot of effort into organising this event. We are always very appreciative of fundraising and support from local people".

If you would like to help make a difference and show your support to those battling mental health issues then please feel free to make a donation through one of our local McCartneys branches or call McCartneys Hay-on-Wye on 01497 820778.