LIVE - The magazine for Optivo residents Summer 2017 | Page 8

LONDON
news
Poppy goes the distance
Optivo resident, Poppy Farrugia, was among
40,000 people who took on the world famous
26.2 mile London Marathon. And she was over
the finish line in less than six hours!
She said: “I’ve never run before and never in a
million and one years thought I would ever do a
marathon, but this has helped me 100 per cent.
It’s got me out of the house and has helped me
get out of a web of worry. It’s also helped me
to get out of isolation and back into a
community again.”
Poppy took part for charity Young Minds, which
works to improve the wellbeing and mental
health of children and young people.
Poppy has raised over £1,600 for
Young Minds.
She was also supporting mental health initiative
Heads Together, supported by the Duke and
Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
The causes are particularly close to her heart
as she has traits of bipolar disorder as well as
depression, anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder.
Her incredible journey to get marathon fit was
shown on BBC One documentary Mind Over
Marathon.
“The running gets my endorphins
pumping. It’s got me out of the
house and has helped me get out
of a web of worry.”
The programme, which featured nine other
runners affected by mental health issues,
showed the positive affect exercise can have on
psychological wellbeing.
Support for local youth club
We stepped in with a £5,000 donation to a
Merton youth club when we heard they were
struggling as a result of government cuts.
“When we heard about Uptown’s
situation we paid them a visit
and we were so impressed with
all the positive work they do with
young people in the borough –
including our own residents.”
UpTown has worked with eight to 16
year olds in Mitcham, Lavender Ward
and Wimbledon for over 20 years.
And many of our own residents in the area have
benefited from the activities that they offer –
including music, dance, drama and sport
as well as life-skills workshops.
Mary Whitfield, from Optivo
The donation came from our charitable fund,
which we set up to support our residents.
Joan Simms, Founder and Director of Uptown,
said: “We get young people involved in positive
activities which get them thinking about their
community and caring about where they live.
“Our work is so important – it doesn’t just help young
people, it helps the community as a whole too.”
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