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A 24-year-old pilot who has previously struggled with his mental health and now wants to help others is due to have his first overnight stopover in Jersey today as part of a fundraising mission.
Pilot Lyle Weir will be flying around the UK and the Channel Islands in a single-engine aircraft, a Piper Arrow, landing at multiple airports to raise money and awareness for mental health charity ‘The Mix’.
Lyle said: “Mental Health challenges can affect anyone at any stage in their lives, and I believe these issues are still misunderstood, underestimated and can be dangerous.”
Lyle acknowledges his personal mental health difficulties as motivation to spread mental health awareness.
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“I have suffered my own personal battles with mental health due to the loss of close family, which led me to a very dark time in my life that I kept to myself for a long time.”
“Worst of all I have lost close friends to poor mental health.”
“This Charity Flight won’t cure everyone or make mental illness disappear. But if it gets people talking and realising they are not on their own, then that, to me, is success.”
Michael Thelwall, Head of Fundraising at ‘The Mix’, said “We’re delighted that Lyle is taking to the skies to raise money for vital mental health services for young people. By fundraising for the UK’s leading digital support service for under-25s, Lyle’s Charity Flight will help to support our life-saving services, so The Mix is always there for young people when they need us the most.”
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In support of Lyle, the Ports of Jersey, Jersey Aero Club and Synergy Aviation are waiving their usual landing and handling fees for his charity flight.
Matt Thomas, Ports of Jersey’s CEO, said: “We are pleased to support Lyle’s challenge, and hope he raises a significant amount for his chosen charity.”
Speaking about Ports' own work on helping employees' with their mental health: “We have trained more than 40 Mental Health First Aiders and have been working with Jersey Recovery College to implement their Mental Health at Work programme.
"We want to equip our leaders, managers and employees with the knowledge and skills they need to build a mentally healthy workplace.”
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