Claire Readman founded Mental Health Friends in 2019 after battling depression and social anxiety and recovering from a breakdown.
“I have been in a very deep, dark, place, so if I can make a small difference to one person, that’s all that matters,” she said.
The charity helps to create supportive communities to support mental health and prioritises early intervention.
It organises drop-ins every Thursday at the Chatty Parrot Cafe in Brackley.
Each contestant has a goal of £250 which will go towards mental health as well as the Step-By-Step Arts Foundation.
“There is such little funding, so little support out there and the waiting lists are huge so if we can intervene early on and make a change, that’s what matters to me.”