A St Albans counselling charity is appealing for people to get on their bikes to raise money for their service.

Would you like to help others regain more balance in their lives by participating in a fun, family-friendly charity cycle ride?

The 25th annual St Albans Charity Cycle Ride (SACCR) takes place on Sunday, May 19.

Participants can challenge themselves to a 10, 20, 30 or 40 mile ride to raise funds to help more people who experience anxiety, depression and grief through weekly counselling.

The Counselling Foundation is proud to be one of the chosen beneficiaries in the 25th Anniversary St Albans Charity Cycle Ride along with Alzheimers Research UK and Secondary First (Cancer Research).

The foundation has seen a huge increase in demand for counselling over the last three years, following a rise in awareness of mental health issues through high profile media campaigns. They said it is increasingly falling to charities to respond to the demand in support.

Funding is vital to ensure financial help is available to support anyone who is unable to pay fully for long-term weekly one-to-one confidential counselling. Every pound raised through sponsorship will go directly to subsidise weekly counselling sessions.

Becci Murtagh, head of marketing for The Counselling Foundation, said: “There is a strong link between physical and mental health. That is why SACCR is the perfect charity event for us to promote the benefits of exercise and the positive impact it can have on our emotional wellbeing.

“Nine out of 10 clients say that without our charitable support, they wouldn’t have been able to receive counselling and have a safe space to talk about what is affecting them.”

The Counselling Foundation is one of the supporters of the Herts Advertiser’s It’s OK to Say campaign. Founder Stacey Turner said the campaign is “like a big giant positive hug providing you with the reassurance you need. You won’t always feel like this, you don’t have to live like this. There is so much hope”.

The event is striving to be bigger than ever this year, with an emphasis on a fun family day.

To get involved email: info@saccr.co.uk or call Judy Mallinson on 01727 868585