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I am not a runner. I am certainly not an athlete. But I AM a normal person who for a very difficult few years didn’t realise he was normal. I have suffered on and off with my mental health probably if I am honest for the best part of my last 25 years. I have had some major ups and downs throughout this time. Some caused by me and some caused by life in general but whatever the reason I want to shine a light on the elephant in the room and the stigma around mental health. Because whatever the reasons or circumstance, I, You, We and our mental health matter more than ever before. In recent years support for those suffering with mental health and in particular the young has made good progress but it is still nowhere near where it needs to be. Not widespread enough, not accessible enough and most importantly not accessible quickly enough. Getting help quickly in particular for the young is critically important and can make the biggest difference to these young peoples lives.

Despite support services improving, mental health  being talked about more openly and the stigma around mental health declining it still has a long way to go. Suicide is still the number one cause of death in the UK for those under the age of 35 and globally each year more than 800k people commit suicide resulting in more deaths than Cancer, Heart Disease and Diabetes combined (one every 40 seconds typically). Suicide is preventable and by doing more, much much more, and enabling those who need support to access the support they need quickly and easily when they need it most we can make a huge difference and change the status quo.

Doing the role I do, running a large supermarket with over 500 employees I see first hand the huge scale of the challenge we face and the impact that mental health has on so many. Not just those suffering themselves but family members, friends and colleagues who are also impacted by the crisis that we face with mental health.

As well as other fundraising events in the coming months I will be running the Leeds Marathon on the 14th May in loving memory of my cousin and friend Stuart Brown, taken from us far far too soon but never ever forgotten. All proceeds raised will go fully to the young minds trust and please give anything you can however big or small to make an enormous difference to many young lives at a time when they need it most 

Thank you for reading my story