Check back later this year for information about joining a Mental Elf run in 2026.

What is a Mental Elf festive fun run?

Mental Elf is a 5km for everyone. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or prefer a stroll in the park with the dog, it’s for you.

Mental Elf fun runs are about community. Each event is unique, reflecting the area and its people.

By taking part, you’re not only making a real difference to the people in your community – you’re changing lives.

How can I take part in a Mental Elf festive fun run?

Your local Mind might be setting up an in-person event near you. Or, you can take part in the Virtual Mental Elf 5km Challenge no matter where you are.

Take part with your local Mind

There are over 40 Mental Elf events taking place all over England and Wales. Find your nearest one below and support your Local Mind.

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Do the Virtual Mental Elf 5km Challenge

If there’s not a Mental Elf event happening near you, or you don’t fancy running in person, you can still get involved. Take part in Mental Elf in your own time at your own pace by joining our virtual event for National Mind.

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Get your own Mind Elf

Visit your local Mind shop or our online shop to pick up a Mind Elf.

Some elves are known for being mischievous, but the Mind Elves are here to inspire kindness and good mental health this festive season.

When you buy a Mind Elf, you’re not just supporting Mind's work for mental health – you’re helping take care of you, too. Each Mind Elf brings 10 ideas for wellbeing activities to do this festive season.

Get your Mind Elf

Is there a Mental Elf festive fun run near me?

Local Minds organise their Mental Elf walks. These local Minds are taking part in 2025:

Find your local Mental Elf event

Norfolk and Waveney Mind

Date: 14 December 2025
Location: Whitlingham Country Park

Mind in Furness

Date: 14 December 2025
Location: Ford Park, Ulverston

Llanelli Mind

Date: Coming Soon!
Location: Coming Soon!

Can't find your local Mind here? Don't worry, you can still join in. Our virtual Mental Elf event means anyone can take part, wherever they are.

Join the Mental Elf Virtual 5km Challenge

If there isn’t a local event near you, don’t worry. You can still get involved by joining the Mental Elf Virtual 5km Challenge. Take part in Mental Elf in your own time, at your own pace. You’ll still be part of a wonderful community of fun runners who are fighting for mental health.

Signing up is simple follow the steps below:

1. Sign up for the virtual event. Registration is £10.99. This includes your 5km training plan, access to our Mental Elf online community, and your exclusive finishers medal. It also includes a donation to support mental health across England and Wales.

2. Join the supportive community. We might all be running in different places, but we’re running together for mental health. Our community will be the place to find inspiration, training tips and support.

3. On the weekend of 6-7 December grab your trainers to take part in the virtual Mental Elf. Join runners, walkers, and rollers across England and Wales (elf ears options but encouraged!)

4. Put your feet up and feel good about the difference you've made for mental health. Your medal will be in the post a few days later, plus an extra special gift from our friends at the National Trust.

Register for the Virtual Mental Elf 5km Challenge

Where will my fundraising money go?

If you run for your local Mind, every penny you raise will go into supporting your community. You'll be helping support:

talking therapy
crisis helplines
advocacy
employment and training schemes
counselling
befriending services

If you join the virtual Mental Elf or buy a Mind elf in our shops, you’ll be raising funds for national Mind. This means you’ll be standing with us on the frontline of the mental health crisis, supporting people across England and Wales.

Your support will make sure we can:

keep calling for urgent change,
holding the people in power to account
being there for the people who need us most through our national helplines and Side by Side peer support community.

National Trust x Mental Elf festive fun runs

In 2025, Mind partnered with the National Trust. If you took part in a local Mental Elf event, joined a virtual challenge, or volunteered, you received a free family access pass to National Trust sites. It’s our way of thanking you for supporting mental health and reminding you to look after your wellbeing this winter.

Spending time in nature or exploring beautiful, historic places can bring calm and comfort when life feels overwhelming. Your free pass is an invitation to connect with nature, heritage, community, and yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Our partnership with the National Trust

You’ll be sent your pass via the email your registered with shortly after your event.

Using your pass is easy and can make for a memorable day out:

Your pass lets you visit participating National Trust places across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It covers up to two adults and six children, but you don’t need to bring anyone else if you don’t want to. Use it once before Friday 27th March 2026. It can’t be used on bank holidays or holiday weekends. For a full list of places, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/using-your-pass
To use the pass, show it at the welcome area. Most places don’t require booking, but check the National Trust website for any specific rules or exclusions. Some sites, like those managed by third parties (e.g., English Heritage or National Trust for Scotland), aren’t included.
Parking isn’t included, so you may need to pay separately if the site charges.
See the full Terms & Conditions and more information on using the pass here.

Got any more questions about Mental Elf events? Please send us an email at [email protected]

The Mind Elf toy

Some elves are known for being mischievous. But the Mind Elves are here to inspire kindness and good mental health this festive season.

When you buy a Mind Elf, you’re not just supporting Mind's work for mental health, but you’re helping to take care of you, too. Each Mind Elf brings 10 ideas for wellbeing activities to do this festive season.

Just like our Mental Elf 5km events, the Mind Elves are helping to make a serious impact whilst bringing festive fun. Mental health affects everyone in different ways. When you buy a Mental Elf from a Mind charity shop or our online store, you help support important services. This support is lifesaving for people in England and Wales.

You can buy a Mind Elf toy in selected Mind charity shops around England and Wales, or online on our shop here.

Finding your local event

You can find your local Mental Elf event listed by region. Each event is organised independently by your local Mind, so they are as unique as your local community is. The funds you raise will stay in your community too. Follow the links through to sign up directly with your local Mind.

Find your local Mental Elf event

Yes. There lots of different ways to take part:

You can walk, jog, skip, or dance your way around a Mental Elf 5km for your Local Mind at an event near you. They’re not just for runners. Please check individual event T&Cs for full details and exclusions.
You can take part in Mental Elf in your own time, at your own pace, by joining our Mental Elf virtual 5k challenge for national Mind. You can decide if you walk, run or roll for your 5km and if you do it in one go or over a couple of days. You’ll still be part of a supportive online community and get a congratulations medal when you complete 5km.
You can also look at your local Mind website for opportunities to volunteer at your local event.
You can keep the festive fun going by buying a Mind Elf from a participating charity shop or our online shop.

If there isn’t a Mental Elf event near you – or you’d rather not run in person – you can still join in! Take part at your own pace by signing up for our Virtual Mental Elf 5k Challenge for national Mind.

Every pound you raise will help us make a real difference in tackling the mental health crisis across England and Wales.

Schools

Please get in touch directly with your local Mind to find out how you can get involved with your school.

See all participating local Minds here.

The Mental Elf Virtual 5k Challenge

The Virtual Mental Elf community can be found on our closed Facebook group. You’ll be sent a link to this by email when you sign up.

You’ll be sent your medal after the 7 December. Please allow 10 working days for delivery during the busy festive period.

Volunteering

Yes, by volunteering, you help keep local Mind services strong. Mental health needs are always changing, and we’re always finding new ways to support people. We couldn’t do it without volunteers like you.

To find out how to volunteer, contact your local Mind. See all participating local Minds here.

We’d be delighted to have your support volunteering as a team. If you are a local Mind partner, please contact your local Mind directly to arrange this.

If you are a national Mind partner, please contact your account manager. We will match you to a local event.

General information

Mental Elf is a local, festive 5km fun run for everyone. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or prefer a stroll in the park with the dog, it’s for you.

Mental Elf is more than a run. It’s about community. Each event is unique, reflecting the area and its people. And every penny raised through local Mental Elf events stays local. By taking part, you’re not just making a real difference to the people in your community – you’re changing lives. 

National Mind, local Minds, and our network of shops are working together to make this year’s Mental Elf the biggest yet.

Mental Elf started as a 5km run at Lancashire Mind many years ago. Since then, it’s grown and spread across England and Wales. Over 20,000 elves ran for mental health last year, and we can’t wait to welcome you back in 2025.

Each local event is organised independently by your local Mind. For this reason, each event is different including ticket prices and on the day experience. Find out what to expect from your local event by visiting their website.

The Virtual Mental Elf 5km Challenge costs £10.99, this includes access to our supportive online community, fun competitions, and a 5km training plan, as well as your finisher's medal and National Trust access pass when you compete your run.

Looking for The Mental Elf^TMblog?

Mental Elf festive fun runs are fundraising events organised by local Minds. The virtual Mental Elf festive 5km is a fundraising event organised by national Mind.

The Mental Elf^TMblog is a separate initiative run independently, providing short, evidence-based summaries of new mental health research. Visit the blog.