This December ReesLeisure, organisers of the ABP Southampton Marathon Festival, are teaming up with Solent Mind, Hampshire's leading mental health charity, for the return of the Mental Elf 5K Festive Fun Run.
Solent Mind exists to make sure no one faces mental health challenges alone. Helping us understand, care for, and support one another, in our communities and in our own lives. ReesLeisure is proud to support one of its valued charity partners through a feel-good, festive event for all, while drawing attention to the vital mental health services available in Hampshire.
Happening on Sunday 7th December 2025, Mental Elf brings the Christmas spirit to Southampton Common with a 5K fun run and a 1K junior run - perfect for everyone from your regular park runners to first-timers and families. At each kilometre, you’ll find an 'Elf Yourself' station, where you’ll collect festive accessories to transform yourself into a fully-fledged elf by the time you cross the finish line. There’s plenty for everyone to enjoy and incredible reasons for you to participate.
Solent Mind operates five main wellbeing centres across Hampshire. They work closely with primary care networks and GPs to ensure timely connections to appropriate services. Solent Mind offers a wide range of support, including wellbeing centres with workshops and creative activities, peer support led by those with lived experience, crisis support through Lighthouse centres, talking therapies such as CBT, and specialised programs for dementia, employment, and youth mental health.
Solent Mind added: “Last year, we supported almost 48,000 service user interventions to help people on their journey to recovery. Our crisis centres provided support for over 4,000 crisis episodes, with a further 4,000 people helped in our Wellbeing Centres. 1,700 people were supported to sustain and secure employment, and we helped over 6,000 young people in schools and colleges through our Heads Up Project, an educational children and young person’s project run in local schools, colleges and universities in Southampton and the New Forest.”
Their person-centred approach aims to promote mental wellbeing, resilience, and recovery across the communities they serve. All proceeds generated from ticket sales for the Mental Elf and fundraising go directly to Solent Mind, supporting life-saving services.
Our team recently visited our neighbours at Solent Mind’s Eastleigh Wellbeing Centre to explore their welcoming space and learn more about the range of support they offer. From one-to-one sessions and drop-in visits to phone support and crisis interventions, the centre provides tailored care to meet the diverse needs of anyone struggling with their mental health.
We’ll be working with the charity ahead of the 2025 Mental Elf 5K and providing some exciting training materials to get you race ready.
Secure your Mental Elf spot here and get ready to bring your stripy tights out of retirement. Keep your eyes peeled for updates from the ReesLeisure and Solent Mind teams!
