Seven funeral homes across Kent banded together to run, walk, cycle, and dance in a virtual relay to raise money and awareness for MIND.

With physical charity events on hold for the foreseeable future, staff across the Co-op's Gravesend Care Centre – a collection of homes across the region – still wanted to raise much-needed funds for the company's charity partner.

Coming up with the innovative idea of a virtual relay, each funeral home aimed to complete a personal active challenge before passing on the virtual baton for the next home to kickstart the next leg.

Funeral arrangers across seven Co-op Funeralcare homes – located in Gravesend, Dartford, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Coxheath and Swanley – were involved in the charity initiative, which was held before the most recent lockdown.

Staff Shelley Hook and Laura Bateup from Tunbridge Wells started off the fundraiser with a 7.5 mile walk.

Passing on the baton, Tonbridge's Pauline Taffurell then completed a 5k dog walk, while Lisa Kohler, from the same home, completed 100 shuffle to heel tap steps.

On the third leg of the event, Coxheath’s Jacky Simmons completed a 5.5 mile circular walk, followed by Swanley’s staff member, Charlene Austin, who challenged herself to a brutal day of exercise which included an 11-mile bike ride, a two-mile walk, and an hour of Zumba.

Next up was Dartford, where Lauren Ambrose and Sam Nicholls completed a one-mile walk around the park, despite the pouring rain. This was followed by the branch in Windmill Street, Gravesend, where staff member Theresa Symns opted to walk to work instead of using public transport.

The final lap of the relay took place at the home in Milton Road, Gravesend. Staff there completed the virtual relay by collectively completing 100 miles on a static exercise bike.

Georgina Grantham, manager of Gravesend Care Centre, praised the staff’s innovative way of fundraising for the vital charity. She said: “Since partnering with MIND last year, Co-op staff have loved raising money for the charity in exciting ways.

“This time round, Covid-19 restrictions meant that our staff had to think outside the box for ways of fundraising. The virtual relay was a fantastic idea, and it was a great way to connect the funeral homes across to region to spread the message of MIND and looking after our mental health.

“Being physically active is just one of the ways you can look after your mental wellbeing, so to support our charity partnership we decided to get moving to raise money and awareness for the charity.”

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend