Charity begins at...Merstham

Merstham FC has announced a charity partnership with Reigate-based charity The Lucy Rayner Foundation for the 2019/20 season. In addition to events and other fund-raising activities, the Foundation's logo will also feature on the first team's shirts.

The Foundation, who work with young adults suffering from depression or other mental health issues, provide mental health counselling, family support and bereavement counselling, and work with organisations such as the Samaritans and Mind. You can read more about their work here.

Merstham Chairman Chris Chapman said, "Obviously we are delighted that the Lucy Rayner Foundation will be partnering with us. Professional sport and football in particular, has been slow to recognise and acknowledge that mental health issues amongst young people are prevalent in every walk of life. The work that Jenny, together with her husband Stuart and daughters Emma and Rebecca, are doing to raise awareness of the mental health challenges faced by young adults is, quite frankly, inspirational. Although they were only established in 2012, they have made a huge impact already, both locally and nationally. If having their logo on our shirts and our website helps raise awareness of their work and more importantly, leads to just one young person or their family approaching the Foundation for help, then we will have made a difference and that is what matters."

Jenny Rayner, who founded the Lucy Rayner Foundation, added:

"The Lucy Rayner Foundation is honoured to be partnering with Merstham Football Club for the coming season. It helps get across the message that mental health is as important as your physical health and we look forward to working with the club to help raise awareness of mental health within sports, and particularly the football arena. A big thank you to everyone at Merstham for their support."

Read more at the Moatsiders website, here.