Hundreds help raise £21K in festive fun run to improve 'Mental Elf'

Hundreds of runners and walkers dressed as elves have raised thousands for mental health at a charity fun run.

The 'Mental Elf' run at Leyland’s Worden Park raised £21,000 for mental health charity Lancashire Mind.

More than 450 people, from tiny tots to pensioners, took part in the charity’s festive fundraiser, making it the biggest one yet in the 12 years its been going.

Runners were dressed as elves or in Christmas-themed attire, many joined by cutely dressed pets for the best dressed dog parade.

And they didn’t let a couple of heavy downpours dampen their day as they took on either the 5K run, the Mini Elf 2K or a Challenge YoursElf route where runners chose their own distance.

The event, organised by Chorley-based mental health charity Lancashire Mind, also included face painting and craft stations, live music and dance performances, plus festive boosts along the route.

The concept of the Mental Elf fun run was created by Lancashire Mind and is now replicated by more than 40 other local Mind charities across the country.

All proceeds from the Leyland fun run go directly to supporting Lancashire Mind’s mental health services.

These funds help provide wellbeing coaching, therapy, supported housing, workplace support and educational programmes to individuals and families.

“Mental Elf 2025 was our biggest and best yet thanks, once again, to incredible support from the Lancashire community and beyond," said Nicola Tomkins, community and events fundraiser at Lancashire Mind.

“We know that people travelled from more than an hour away to take part, doing something positive for their own wellbeing and raising vital funds to support others, too.

“The £21,000 raised could allow Lancashire Mind to support, for example, 47 children with a six week course of virtual wellbeing coaching; that’s free one-to-one support to help overcome challenges such as anxiety, low mood, worry, school pressures and friendships.

“A huge thank you to everyone who took part and helped us to change lives.”

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

“Mental Elf was another amazing event delivered by the Lancashire Mind team with more runners than ever before, including colleagues who flew the SPAR and James Hall flag, participating and volunteering on the day," said Philippa Harrington, marketing manager at James Hall & Co. Ltd.

“It is great to see the profile of the event increase once again in 2025, and I am so pleased that the charity has been able to break the £20,000 fundraising mark this year too which will fund important mental health support work across Lancashire.”

Additional sponsorship was provided by Blackburn-based fulfilment and logistics provider, Granby; live-in care provider Promedica24 (Lancashire, Cumbria and North Yorkshire); solicitors Marsden Rawsthorn, digital marketing agency, Complete; and Essential Industrial Services, based at Walton Summit.