A BRIDE who turned her life around after anxiety threatened to ruin her career has donated more than £1,600 to help others battling for better mental health.

Christine Diesel, 26, asked her wedding guests to make a donation towards workplace wellbeing social enterprise Rhyl City Strategy Wales (RCS Wales) instead of buying her and now husband, Huw Bill, 29, a gift.

The couple wanted to thank the organisation after counselling helped Chrissie overcome severe anxiety which struck after she started her first job as a vet.

Chrissie was referred to RCS Wales by her GP for support last year as she was struggling to cope, suffering self-doubt and low confidence which left her feeling “scared and hopeless”.

The couple, who honeymooned in Pembrokeshire, said they were overwhelmed by the £1,667 raised.

The money will go towards helping others starting out on their career ladder.

Rhyl Journal:

Chrissie and Huw on their wedding day

Chrissie, a vet at Wern veterinary practise in Ruthin, said: “I’m so happy that so many people chose to donate to RCS. Some people who donated had struggled as well, or knew someone who had struggled.

“A lot of people had seen me go through my struggles and they knew that RCS had helped me so much and they had seen the difference in me.

“Before I found RCS I felt scared and hopeless. Now I feel I can function normally again. I can hold down my job and personal relationships, and not constantly beat myself up about everything."

Chrissie and Huw married in July at St Meugans Church in Llanrhydd, Ruthin.

The lifelong animal lover, who has two rescue dogs, a cat, three ducks, two chicken and a rescued baby hedgehog called ‘Flea-on’, was born in South Africa and has lived in Ruthin since 2016.

“I still have counselling at RCS. I only need to go every couple of months now and last time I only needed 15 minutes, whereas at the beginning I needed hours to get everything out," Chrissie added.

“I just wanted to give back I think everyone if they are helped should give back even if it’s not raising money it could be passing on the information about the service and telling more people about it.”

RCS Wales is a not-for profit social enterprise that helps people enter, sustain and progress in employment through improving health and wellbeing and employability, which can include support for low mood, anxiety, depression, or a physical condition which is causing pain or affecting mobility.

Ali Thomas, operational director of RCS, said: "Her wedding gift fundraiser was an incredible gesture and we will put the donation to good use supporting more people in a similar position to Chrissy.

“We want to make sure this offers a real legacy for Chrissy so in particular we want to use her donation to reach out to people who are just starting out in their careers.

Visit rcs-wales.co.uk or telephone 01745 336442.