Staff at Mill View Mental Health Hospital Are Taking on a 100-Mile Bike Ride to Support Patients access more Therapeutic Activity on the Ward.

We’re cycling from Brighton to Bournemouth to raise funds for Regency Ward, the working-age men’s mental health ward, to provide more holistic therapeutic activities for our patients.

Adrian Clark, (Mental Health Nurse), Kerry McSweeney, (Occupational Therapist), and Avantika Prasad (HCA) work as a team on Regency Ward. Together, we want to make a difference for our patients.

The Challenge Our Patients Face

Many of our patients experience long stays in acute care with very few opportunities for physical activity or creative engagement. Without these outlets, recovery can feel slow, isolating, and hopeless.

Behind their diagnoses are stories of childhood abuse, poverty, time in care, exposure to crime, and systemic neglect. These experiences often mean limited access to safe spaces for exercise, education, and wellbeing.

This leads to severe health inequalities and a heartbreaking cycle of repeated hospital admissions.

Our Goal

We’re aiming to raise £2,800 to fund:

✅ Therapeutic group classes such as Tai Chi, shadow boxing, and football

✅ Horticulture projects, games, and creative activities

✅ Fitness sessions and entertainment to boost morale and promote recovery

Why This Matters

Therapeutic activities are essential for long-term recovery and preventing re-admission. Hospitals often focus on stabilizing patients to safety, but we want to go further, to support holistic theraputic recovery through doing, starting in hospital and continuing in the community.

Research shows that physical activity, creative outlets, and access to green spaces improve mental health outcomes and build skills needed for life beyond hospital walls. NICE guidelines emphasize this, yet funding is limited in the NHS.

Patients can spend weeks or even months in acute care. Without meaningful activities, those days can feel like a sentence. With your help, we can fill those days with purpose, connection, and hope.

More Than Just Fundraising

This campaign is about equity, dignity, and second chances. Every pound raised will help create an environment where recovery isn’t just possible, it’s actively encouraged.

We witness our patients’ resilience and courage every day. Riding 100 miles is nothing compared to their challenges, but it’s our way of showing we’re willing to go the distance for them.

Please donate and help us turn long hospital stays into opportunities for healing. Any support is truly appreciated, thank you! ✨

#MentalHealthMatters #BrightonToBournemouth #FundraiserForHope #NHSRecovery #SupportRecovery #EquityInCare