Foundation extends helping hand to Project 14

Club Doncaster Foundation are offering their bespoke bike service to help Project 14 raise awareness for mental health.

Gemma Noakes, of Dearne, who does plenty of work for Project 14, saw the pain and suffering caused by mental health surrounding her and decided to try and change what she saw. She began to organise a fundraising event to support local community group Project 14. 

On the back of this, she has decided to organise a sponsored bike ride/walk to bring members of the community together with the added bonus of raising awareness and money for the project.

The project will utilise the Foundation’s bike library service, which grants groups and members of the public free access to a range of bikes. 

Speaking about why she decided to organise a sponsored ride/walk Gemma said:

“We are all effected by the loss of people we know, people we grew up with, friends, family members and work colleagues who have taken their own life or suffered from mental health issues.

“This is something that deeply saddened me. Helping people is something I feel passionate about and these people needed help, but we never knew it, it breaks my heart.

“I’m setting up this event, not only to acknowledge mental health and suicide prevention, but also to bring everyone together, to support each other and be there for one another in hope that it helps prevent another suicide happening. 

Project 14 are a group of people that aim to raise awareness and funds for mental health charities and services that can help local people across Barnsley and the Dearne Valley area. 

There are more than 100 people involved in a men’s only bike ride on Sunday October 20, cycling an astonishing 26 miles, starting from the Keepmoat Stadium, home of Doncaster Rovers Football Club.

The group will cycle to New York Stadium in Rotherham, before making their way to Barnsley FC’s Oakwell stadium to the finish line. There is also a woman’s only 14-mile walk taking place on the same day.

Health and wellbeing officer, Scott Copeland, said: “We do a lot of work to try and educate people on mental health, so we are happy to support people looking to raise awareness on important issues like this.”

For more information, search Project 14 on Facebook. To donate to Project 14, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/project14.