Maria Lyle Expand Inspirational Maria Lyle, 19, is a highly successful Parasport athlete from Dunbar, who competes mainly in the 100m and 200m in the T35 category. Maria, who has cerebral palsy, has won medals at the Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships, and recently won double gold at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai. Maria, who has been named as the 2019 Evening Times Young Scotswoman of the Year, has been appointed a charity ambassador for Support in Mind Scotland and is supporting our 100 Streets Challenge this year.
Gary Little Expand Gary Little is one of the most consistent and funny acts in Scottish comedy. A proud Glaswegian, Gary is recognised as a master storyteller, and is a regular headliner at many of the top comedy clubs in the UK. Gary - who has lived experience of mental ill health - became a charity ambassador for Support in Mind Scotland in 2018 and has headlined three comedy nights (two in Glasgow, one in Edinburgh) to raise funds for SiMS. Read an interview with him here. Visit his website here: http://www.biggarylittle.co.uk/
Marius Pelser Expand Marius Pelser, a Business Architect who lives and works in Edinburgh, was appointed a charity ambassador in 2018. He has also run and cycled in a series of events, raising thousands of pounds for Support in Mind Scotland. In 2016, Marius was diagnosed with PTSD and all its related symptoms. He says: "I felt that I would not let this diagnosis get the better of me and looked into ways of managing my symptoms without the need for medication. I found the world of running and quickly became a supporter of the hypothesis, probably more a fact, that there is a very close link between mental and physical exercise. "Support in Mind Scotland has helped me by being a platform which I can use to profess this, encourage people to improve their mental health and enjoy a healthier life." Marius blogs about mental health, fundraising, and other things. Visit it here.
Scott and Jenny Hastings Expand Scott and Jenny Hastings have been great supporters and ambassadors for Support in Mind Scotland since 2015. Jenny - a finalist in the 2018 Scottish Charity Awards - says: "Support in Mind Scotland is an organisation that gives hope, raises awareness and reduces stigma towards mental health. They are the founders of the 100 Streets challenge which is bringing people together from all walks of life, helping to show society that physical and mental health are equal." Rugby legend Scott, who won the Grand Slam with Scotland and represented the British & Irish Lions, says: "Mental health is every bit as important as physical health, and anyone affected by mental illness should be able to seek the help they need without fear of stigma or discrimination. Attitudes are thankfully starting to change through the work of charities such as Support in Mind Scotland."