Prize donors for mental health raffle needed

A massage therapist needs prize donors for a raffle she is organising for a mental health charity.
Lauren Vaughan, centre, with the mayor of Worthing Sean McDonald and town crier Bob Smytherman. They are seeking donors for a charity raffle which will raise money for Coastal West Sussex Mind.Lauren Vaughan, centre, with the mayor of Worthing Sean McDonald and town crier Bob Smytherman. They are seeking donors for a charity raffle which will raise money for Coastal West Sussex Mind.
Lauren Vaughan, centre, with the mayor of Worthing Sean McDonald and town crier Bob Smytherman. They are seeking donors for a charity raffle which will raise money for Coastal West Sussex Mind.

Lauren Vaughan started Laroma Therapies last year, which focuses on giving massage and holistic therapies to improve people’s mental health.

The raffle, part of a charity Christmas party run by Lauren, will take place on December 9 and the money raised will go to Coastal West Sussex Mind – a group close to Lauren’s heart.

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In the early nineties when she was four or five, Lauren’s mum Anna was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was hospitalised for three months after being sectioned.

Lauren said: “There was a real struggle for mum in getting the help and support she needed and wasn’t always treated to a good standard. No one told mum she was able to claim benefits she was entitled to, so for eight years she lived off £45 per week.

“It affected our family life at the time as my dad had to practically bring me and my sister up on his own whilst working as well.

“Also it affected their relationship massively and effectively caused it to break down. It was difficult for me and my sister too because obviously we were so young and didn’t fully understand what was going on, so it was an upsetting time and a struggle for all of us.”

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She said that while Anna’s mental health has improved, she still struggles to get support ‘due to there not being enough awareness surrounding mental health and the stigma attached to it’.

Anna said: “It’s amazing what my daughter is doing as she’s providing a safe and judgement free place which accepts and supports mental health.”

Laroma Therapies runs monthly community events, and has recently been nominated for the contribution to the community, customer service and personal achievement awards at the Adur and Worthing Business Awards.

Click here to visit Lauren’s JustGiving page and donate a raffle prize.