The Apia Hash House Harriers running club has donated $42,000 to the Goshen Trust, the group's fifth such donation since it began making fundraising donations to the mental health charity five years ago.

Nynette Sass, who spoke on behalf of the social running club, said the donation was in recognition of the Trust itself, its management, the board of directors and all the consumers that have utilised their services.

"We acknowledge the love, the passion, the support and care that you provide consumers. we also would like to acknowledge the fact that there are so many of us who have also suffered some form of mental illness," Mrs. Sass said.

The group has been in existence for 40 years and each year holds fundraising events for charity. 

For the last five years their charity of choice has been Goshen Trust.

The group has used the Samoa Perimeter Relay as its preferred fundraising platform, circumnavigating Upolu on foot.

"This year, we are here today with some of our members who ran and who walked and cried on the way but still wanted to complete the circumnavigation of Upolu for you guys," she said.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer on Wednesday, the Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O) of the Goshen Trust Naomi Eshraghi said that the Apia Hash House Harriers' support has been vital for the Trust.

"They have been there from the beginning when I joined Goshen. Not only financially but resources and all throther things. professionally, skills, they've all been very extremely helpful to Goshen," Mrs. Esraghi told the Samoa Observer.

She added that the donation will go into the operating costs of Goshen trust and its programmes so that they keep going and keep improving and happening for the patients.

"I would like to say God bless them, God bless them for their generous time, heartfelt love for this organisation and all the people who are experiencing mental health in general," she said.

The Trust provides shelter and in-patient services for people with a variety of psychological or psychiatric needs and broader treatment as well as community-based treatment. 

The Chairman of the Trust, Tuaena Lomano Paulo, told the Samoa Observer that he was thankful to the Hash House Harriers for their generosity.