A Cornwall-based mental health charity has benefitted from the generosity of passengers on one of the area’s most recognisable modes of transport.
Foot and cycle passengers on the King Harry Ferry donated a total of £2.6k to the Invictus Trust.
The small Cornish charity, which aims to provide vital information and support to local adolescents who are suffering from poor mental health and associated issues, was chosen as the ferry’s charity of the year during 2012.
Tim Light, King Harry Ferry managing director, said: “Every year we choose a charity or appeal that is both local and relevant to our service or has had an influence on one of our staff.
“The Invictus Trust is a fantastic charity, which does amazing work to support young people in Cornwall, so we were proud to make it our charity of the year.”
The Invictus Trust focuses on development of online resources and peer support in schools and colleges, and aims to deliver printed information to every teenager in the county.
Truro residents, Steve and Sharon Cowburn, who set up the charity in 2011, know only too well the vital role that mental support can play in people’s lives, having tragically lost their son Ben aged just 18.
The Cowburn family, including Ben’s three sisters, now fundraise tirelessly through a range of events to generate awareness and develop support for teenage mental health.
Sharon Cowburn said: “We were really grateful when we found out the King Harry Ferry team had chosen us as for the charity of the year.
“The generous donations from the passengers will go towards helping our dream of establishing a £5 million mental health unit called Project Invictus aimed at 13 to 25 year olds in Cornwall.”
The ferry’s new charity of the year for 2013 is Surf Action.
