The Coca-Cola HBC 160km Charity Challenge in aid of Action Mental Health

Energetic staff at Coca Cola HBC are endeavouring to clock up 160km this summer as part of a major fundraising drive for their charity partners, including Action Mental Health.

The distance of 160km has been chosen to reflect the distance between their Northern Ireland site at Lissue Road, Lisburn, and its counterpart in the Republic of Ireland, where it is based in Ballycoolin, Dublin.

Employees will be running, swimming, cycling and walking or taking the exercise of their choice to count down the miles, close to home.

One staff member stated: “I’m undertaking Coca-Cola HBC’s 160km Challenge in aid of our charity partners Action Mental Health and the Marie Keating Foundation. All donations will go directly towards helping these charities through this difficult time and any support would be greatly appreciated.”

Coca Cola staff are keeping active to help support and promote good mental health and well-being. The benefits of exercise are well documented, with physical activity playing a huge role in keeping people’s minds healthy. On top of the advantages it brings to our bodies, exercise also helps reduce stress and clear the mind.

Action Mental Health’s Fundraising and Communications Manager Jonathan Smyth said: “Physical activity plays a huge role in keeping our minds healthy as well as our bodies and it is fantastic that Coca Cola staff are boosting their health and well-being through physical activity and raising funds to support our vital services at the same time.

“With one in five people in Northern Ireland experiencing mental ill-health at some stage of their life, it’s important to remember that keeping active can really help to reduce stress and clear the mind and help with overall mental well-being. Looking after your mental health is especially important right now, as we deal with the impacts of the pandemic on our daily lives.”