It will be up, up and away for a Corrie star and other volunteers from a ‘unique’ mental health charity when they launch a high-altitude bid to raise awareness and cash.

You’ve heard of shouting it from the roof tops, well Jennie McAlpine, alias Fiz in Coronation Street, will go one better for Mood Swings Network when she flies the flag at 2,000ft in a huge Virgin balloon later this month.

The flight will mark Mood Swings’ 10th anniversary, and Jennie will be joined in the basket by dad Tom, founder and chairman of the Manchester-based charity, and other key volunteers who’ll be waving banners to spread the word to people far below.

Mood Swings Network has given uplifting support to thousands of people from all over UK who have mental health problems, including many with bipolar affective disorder, since it started in 1997.

The charity, working closely with all relevant agencies including NHS mental health services, is somewhat unique as it offers on-going tailored support of all kinds to each client, whatever their needs, enabling them to begin their own road to recovery.

Volunteers, who all have personal experience of mental health related issues, say the broad and non-specific service they offer - which ranges from counselling and positive mood enhancing group activities, an advice helpline and support for carers - makes funding harder to come by because grants are often ring fenced.

So, they have launched a major drive, led by Jenny, to raise money and awareness starting, weather permitting, with the flight from Virgin Balloon Flight’s launch site at Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire on June 16. Jenny is also hosting a glitzy 70s ball at the Lowry Hotel, in Manchester on August 16.

Jennie, who has helped out at Mood Swings since her early teens, said: “We are a unique charity, in that we don’t have a specific list of things that we do. We’re set up in a way that hopefully, if we can, we’ll endeavour to help people in whatever way they need.

“Without our own fundraising Mood Swings would close tomorrow and this can’t happen because many vulnerable people are in the midst of their recovery and
we must continue to be there when they need us. So, it is vital that events like our Virgin Balloon Flight raise the profile and, essentially, funding.”

The balloon flight will last for around an hour, ending with a traditional champagne toast, and during that time the airborne fundraisers could take their message as far as 20 miles, depending on wind speed.

For one client, now turned volunteer, the flight will be a celebration of their amazing personal recovery success story.

Mood Swings stepped in to help 30-year-old Thomas Woodrow, from Manchester, when he experienced symptoms of a bipolar affective disorder while away teaching in India in 2005.

The charity helped Thomas’s concerned family to understand his condition so they could bring him home safely. Back home, Thomas’s recovery began with counselling and advice on self help together with practical support which led to him enrolling on a university course to become a teacher.

“Two years on, I have done my PGCE qualification and am now teaching 20 hours a week and volunteering at Mood Swings, where I help Tom with the recovery group, where I’m able to use my experience to aid other people in their recovery,” said Thomas.

“I’m really looking forward to the balloon flight which should be a great day,” he added.

Alex Ferguson, from Virgin Balloon Flights, said: “Mood Swings is a fantastic charity and we are delighted to be raising funds and awareness for the work of its dedicated volunteers.”

For more information about Mood Swings call the helpline on 0161 953 4105 or for 70s night tickets call Linda on 07709 348157.

For more information on the event call Alex Ferguson, Virgin Balloon Flights’ PR & Marketing Manager, on 01952 212760 or email at
alexf@virginballoonflights.co.uk