This September, pharmacy professionals, students and supporters across Great Britain are putting their best foot forward for Walk for Wellbeing: 97 for 97.
By walking 97km or completing 97,000 steps and asking friends, family and colleagues to sponsor them, our fundraisers are helping to raise vital funds for the 97% of our pharmacy family who say they need support from our charity. The response so far has been incredible. They have already raised almost £1,000 to help ensure that people working and studying in pharmacy can access support when they need it most.
Behind every kilometre walked and every donation made is a shared belief: that no one in our pharmacy family should have to face life’s challenges alone.
For pharmacy student and Pharmacist Support Student Ambassador Michella, the campaign has a deeply personal meaning.
When she learnt that 97% of pharmacy professionals say they will need support from Pharmacist Support at some point in their lives, she says it strengthened her determination to get involved.
“When I’ve had difficult or overwhelming periods during my degree, I’ve found that going for a walk can really help me clear my head and feel a little more like myself. So, the idea of using something that has personally helped me as a way of raising awareness and money for such an important cause felt really meaningful.”
Michella understands how easy it can be for people to hide what they are going through.
“You never truly know what someone else might be going through behind the scenes. I wouldn’t want anyone studying or working in pharmacy to feel that they have to struggle in silence or deal with everything on their own.”
She’ll be completing her 97,000-step challenge by making walking part of her everyday routine, including walking to work, getting off the bus early and taking evening walks.
For North East London Local Pharmaceutical Committee’s CEO and Pharmacist Support Ambassador Shilpa, taking part was a natural extension of something she was already doing.
“I have a busy job, so it’s good to switch off and get the steps in. I’m doing all of this anyway (I’m also taking part in a September challenge to get moving, leading a team of 15 people in community pharmacy against another 30+ teams across various healthcare sectors!), so I decided to use what I was already doing to raise money for a charity that I support and know is used and needed by many pharmacists.”
Shilpa knows how demanding working in pharmacy can be.
“As a profession that spends the majority of its time supporting the health and wellbeing of others, their own health and wellbeing is often overlooked.”
She hopes her fundraising efforts and the campaign will help raise awareness and normalise conversations about seeking support.
Retired pharmacist Jenny is taking on the challenge as part of the Royal College of Pharmacy’s Retired Pharmacists Team.
For the retired pharmacists taking part, the challenge is a team effort – with members across the country each working towards 97km, or around 60 miles, throughout September.
“Our main aim is quite simply to raise as much money as we can for Pharmacist Support and, of course, bragging that we each walked 60 miles in September!”
With Jenny’s experience and deep connection to the professions, she’s understanding that her team’s fundraising can make a big difference: “As retired pharmacists, we’re keen that those working in challenging areas of practice or are going through difficult times in their lives can get free appropriate support.”
Why your sponsorship matters
Our fundraisers are walking for something much bigger than reaching a number. They are helping to raise funds for people across our pharmacy family who may be facing difficult moments in their lives. The people we support may be coping with anxiety or grief, experiencing financial worries, facing difficulties at work or dealing with challenges that have left them unsure where to turn. Through our services, we provide confidential counselling, peer support, financial assistance and other support to people working and studying in pharmacy.
Every story is different, but the need for support is real. As Michella says:
“If taking part in this challenge can help even one person feel more comfortable asking for support, then I’ll feel like every single step was worth it.”
Our fundraisers are already proving that small actions can add up to something meaningful. Whether they’re walking before or after work, counting their daily steps or joining forces with friends and colleagues, every one of them is helping to make a difference … and you can too! Whether you can give £5, £10 or more, every sponsorship donation helps us continue providing life-changing support to people working and studying in pharmacy. As Shilpa says:
“The money will help pharmacists who are always helping others. Every penny helps, so please donate whatever you can.”
Our Walk for Wellbeing: 97 for 97 fundraisers have already raised almost £1,000, but there is still time to help us go further. Please sponsor a fundraiser’s challenge today and help ensure that when someone in pharmacy needs support, we’re there.
