Stop.Breathe.Think enjoyed its very first corporate event during mental health awareness week, with an evening of stirring speakers, auctions, impromptu ski lessons and a wonderful dinner, all put together by Swiss Life Asset Managers UK.
In just a few hours, Stop.Breathe.Think and a room of amazing new supporters raised an incredible £28,000 to support children and young people across the UK in need of mental health support.
Swiss Life Asset Managers UK’s CEO Giles King and Stop.Breathe.Think Founder & CEO Dan Charlish welcomed guests and spoke about the importance of acknowledging how mental health affects us all, before inviting SBT Trustee Kevin Hempstead to the stage.
Kevin’s speech – a moving and personal appraisal of how counselling can change and save lives – emphasised the need to reach the UK’s marginalised and deprived children. With waiting lists for free support reaching three years, the opportunity to feel heard and supported is missing for most young people who suffer with poor mental health. In a cost of living crisis, Stop.Breathe.Think’s role as a fast, free, accessible service is more important than ever.
Giles King, CEO of Swiss Life Asset Managers UK “We were delighted to support Stop.Breathe.Think. at our fundraiser this year. At Swiss Life Asset Managers UK, we deeply believe in the importance of mental well-being. We hope the event and the money raised from it will help to increase awareness, provide essential resources, and support those who are navigating their mental health journeys. Everyone deserves access to care and the opportunity to live a fulfilling life.”
After dinner guests were treated to a characteristically inspiring and enjoyable speech by four time winter Olympian and Ski Sunday Presenter Chemmy Alcott. Talking about overcoming adversity with ‘passion, positivity and perseverance,’ Chemmy also had the whole room in stitches with a brief group ski lesson. A fantastic array of auction items assembled and donated by Swiss Life Asset Managers UK enhanced the air of competition, with great enthusiasm from guests to dig deep and support the charity.
Stop.Breathe.Think Founder and CEO Dan Charlish said, ‘As our first ever corporate event, this evening has set the bar pretty high – we are so grateful for the support from Swiss Life Asset Managers UK and the enthusiasm shown by so many guests in the room for the SBT initiative. We know that to successfully grow this service to support the numbers of young people who need it, we will need companies and supporters to get behind the vision – so to have the chance to talk to so many people about the service and receive such a positive response was hugely encouraging.’
Stop.Breathe.Think are so grateful for the support and generosity of all attendees who listened, supported and donated to our cause. We’re particularly grateful to Giles, Munleen, Georgie and Phoebe from Swiss Life Asset Managers UK for putting together such a wonderful event.
