Penguin Random House UK and DK walk 4,000 miles & raise over £8,000

Dressed in blue Mind t-shirts, walkers marched across the capital from Embankment Gardens through Fitzrovia and Clerkenwell to Shoreditch, covering over 3,750 miles collectively and handing out books and bookmarks to the public to raise awareness for Mind.

The money raised – every penny of which will go directly to the charity – could enable Mind to take an additional 1,000 calls from people looking for support for themselves or a friend or family member experiencing a mental health problem.

The walkers, including Penguin Random House UK CEO, Tom Weldon, finished their route at Cargo in East London where they celebrated their fundraising efforts with Mind CEO, Paul Farmer.

Completing the challenge, Tom Weldon, CEO, Penguin Random House UK, said: “We believe books can help to improve people’s lives and we take pride in our individual and collective contribution to making the world a better place, in both big and small ways. This is reflected in the energy colleagues have put into the walk today and the passion and heart they have shown throughout the year to help Mind provide vital support to those with mental health issues.”

Friday’s walk was just one milestone in a partnership between Penguin Random house UK and Mind that has seen the publishers raise more than £80,000 through fundraising and donations. A company sky dive for Mind will follow this summer as well as a major new publication on 2nd July, Dear Stranger - a book of original letters in which Penguin Random House authors including Caitlin Moran, Marian Keyes, Tony Parsons and Arianna Huffington share their thoughts on the subject of happiness, with all proceeds going to Mind.  

Paul Farmer, CEO, Mind, added: “One in four people will experience a mental health problem this year and countless more will be affected through friends, family, work colleagues and other people in their lives. Mind is there to end the stigma that stops people speaking out and asking for help and to be there for them when they do – but there is so much more we want to achieve.  

“The support of today’s walkers will help us reach a point where anyone feels able to ask for, and access, the help they need. The money they have raised will fund our work such as the Mind Infoline, information and advice services, and the campaigning we do to secure a better deal everybody who experiences a mental health problem.”