A VOLUNTEER counsellor is set to get on her bike to raise awareness of people’s mental health.

Catherine Elizabeth, 42, works with Basingstoke Counselling Services and is set to take part in The Prudential Ride London.

The mother-of-three will take part in the 100 mile ride from London to Surrey to raise money for the counselling service as well as mental health in general.

The counselling service provides affordable counselling to those that need it most.

She told the Gazette: “Perceptions around mental health are changing but there is still more support for people needed.

“People are doing more to support mental health charities, but these are sometimes more of the well-known ones

“The Basingstoke Counselling Services helps plug the gaps the NHS can’t, there is still a lot of work to do.”

Catherine is hoping to raise £500 for the service, which offers one-to-one and couples counselling for adults.

She added: “Counselling can help to alleviate these issues. People come to counselling for a plethora of reasons.”

In preparation for the big ride, which takes place on July 29, Catherine did a trial run of some of the route and said the heat and mental strength was one of the toughest battles to endure.

She added: “I got to the point where I was so hot and worn out and my phone had died so I had no maps or anything.

“I thought the mental exhaustion I was feeling most be just a small example of what people who are battling with a mental illness must experience.

“But no matter what, I know I am doing this and I am determined to finish this challenge.”

According to the British Psychological Society, last year one in four GPs appointments were related to mental health issues.

To help support Catherine to raise funds for the Basingstoke Counselling Services go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/displayCharityCampaignPage.action?charityCampaignUrl=CatherineButler.