57 Lunches for Anna
Margaret reflects on the success of A Lunch for Anna, which raised over £14k for Mind's peer support services.
Margaret is retired from management in the Citizens Advice service, she now supports Mind when she is not pursuing her many hobbies.
Let me share with you an excerpt from one of the many letters received after an A Lunch for Annaevent:
“I just wanted to let you know how delighted I, my wife, and two of our children were to be invited to A Lunch for Anna. Jane spoiled us with a frankly splendid curry with every conceivable condiment, a selection of authentic lagers, and enough trimmings to threaten even Kent’s finest Asian establishments! We had a wonderful time entirely fitting of the joy I am sure Anna brought to so many.”
It was such a wonderful experience raising money for Mind in memory of our daughter Anna. By the time it would have been her 41st birthday on 10th July 2017, 57 meals had been held involving over 470 people. And the word 'meals' includes tennis and table tennis tournaments, walking and book groups, listening to nightingales sing, games of bridge and eating together. A number of people spoke about their experience of mental illness at these meals, sometimes for the first time.
On the final day, Pai Skincare (founded by one of Anna’s school friends) raised awareness by writing about the work of Mind on their web site and donating a percentage of their profits. Each purchase included a thank you from Mind and Pai.
A Lunch for Anna raised grand total of £14,119.50 (including Gift Aid), substantially over our target of £3,000!!
“As you said in your letter telling us about A Lunch for Anna we are all challenged in some way by mental illness at times in our lives, either personally or through those close to us and it is inspiring to see the fund raising initiatives and work to change attitudes to support this vitally important issue.”
The mind is a funny thing, and is brilliant when it thinks of something which has been such fun to organise and produced such positive results.
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