A Day for Thorpey

A Day for Thorpey was an extraordinary collaboration between Mind and Surrey County Cricket Club, created to honour the life and legacy of legendary cricketer Graham Thorpe MBE. Held on 1 August 2025 at the Kia Oval on what would have been Graham’s 56th birthday. The campaign united a sold out stadium and millions of viewers worldwide in remembrance, conversation and action.

The partnership set three bold goals: to celebrate Graham in a meaningful way, challenge stigma around mental health and suicide on one of cricket’s biggest stages and raise £100,000 to expand Mind’s vital services. The campaign surpassed every expectation. Centred on a limited edition “Thorpey headband”, co-designed with Graham’s wife and daughters, fundraising was intentionally simple, visible and accessible. Supported by volunteers, digital giving routes and multiple online storefronts, the campaign sold more than 26,000 headbands and inspired tens of thousands to donate. A carefully crafted media strategy amplified impact far beyond the Oval. Through deeply personal interviews with Thorpey’s family and support from influential voices including Sir Mick Jagger and David Gower, the campaign achieved over 230 million opportunities to see, generating 185 pieces of coverage and 25 million social impressions. A Day for Thorpey raised over £175,000, driving a 385% surge in online giving and enabling the national rollout of Thorpey’s Bat and Chat cricket and mental health programme from 2026. This collaborative fundraising campaign not only honoured a cricketing legend - it created lasting, positive change for mental health across England and Wales.