A team of vets from Cambridgeshire have successfully raised more than £1.8k in support of veterinary colleagues suffering from mental health issues.
Seven vets from Linnaeus-owned Cromwell Vets, which has six practices across the county, including in Huntingdon, St Ives, St Neots and Ramsey, took on the gruelling Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge in aid of the Vetlfie Charity.
The team combated a "daunting" 24-mile trek, scaling the peaks of Pen-y-Ghent (694m), Whernside (736m), and Ingleborough (723m).
The challenge must be completed inside 12 hours, and the team crossed the finish line with just over 20 minutes to spare.
Student veterinary nurse Katy Dickson said: "I'm very proud that we took on, and completed, the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge in aid of a cause close to our hearts.
"It was physically and mentally very demanding to keep focused as a team to finish the challenge within the allowed time.
"Just as importantly, we've smashed our fundraising target of £1,500."
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Vets Katy Dickson, Katy Peacock, Abby Spencer, Emma Lyons, Polly Berks, Charlotte Varley and Michelle Tapp all took on the challenge with the group comprised of veterinary surgeons, nurses and a patient care assistant.
Their official finishing time was 11 hours, 38 minutes and 51 seconds.
A team from Cromwell Veterinary Group has conquered the Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge and raised £1800 for #Vetlife! The group completed the 26 mile challenge in an impressive 11hrs 40 minutes.
— Vetlife (@VetlifeUK) June 6, 2023
A huge thanks to all for your enthusiasm and support. 💚 https://t.co/ILPTfYBjDd pic.twitter.com/XkBmI7QlMR
The team has so far raised £1,810 for Vetlife, which aims to create a veterinary community with high levels of physical and mental well-being, providing a 24-hour helpline, health support and financial support.
Katy, a mental health and wellbeing ambassador at Cromwell Vets who often organises team activities for the practice, added: "Vetlife does fantastic work by providing vital free and confidential support to the veterinary community.
“It’s a community which continues to experience significantly higher levels of depression and suicide than the general population.
“For instance, veterinarians are three to four times more likely to commit suicide than the general public, and nearly 70 per cent of veterinarians have lost a colleague to suicide.
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"Vetlife makes a real difference, and its support to the veterinary community and their families with emotional, health or financial concerns is invaluable."
Anyone who would like to donate can still do so at www.justgiving.com/page/vets-yorkshire3peaks, and for more information on Vetlife and Cromwell Vets, visit www.vetlife.org.uk or www.cromwellvets.co.uk.
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