In 2021 we very sadly lost Emily’s little sister, Izzy, to mental health. She was the most beautiful, bubbly and brilliant person, lighting up any room she was in, and she is missed so much, by so many, everyday.

The loss of Izzy was a complete shock to us all, and we want to help to make sure that no one ever has to suffer as Izzy did, or experience the loss that our family and so many of her friends have. 

Sam and I have chosen to run a half marathon to raise money help support Mind, a mental health charity, who are there for anyone experiencing, or anyone who knows someone who is experiencing, mental health problems. Those of you who know me and Sam will know that we’re not natural runners, so this is very much a challenge in itself.

Mind are an incredible charity that not only offer support and advice to anyone worried about their mental health, but also work and campaign to improve services, raise awareness and improve understanding of mental health issues. 

I’m sure that recently we have all become increasingly aware that young people are struggling with their mental health more and more. On top of this, they often also feel that the right support isn’t there, or that they are unsure whether or not to talk about it without fear of judgement, or not being taken seriously. Recently, Mind recognised that young people in the UK need more from mental health services, and so have adjusted their strategy to ensure that at least 30% of the people using their funded programmes and services are under the age of 24. They also want to work to actively build a better community for young people with mental health problems, to ensure that they feel that they are in a safe and understanding place.

Mental health problems aren’t always visible, and we want to help to enable us all to live in a world where people feel able to talk openly about mental health struggles, without worrying about stigma or consequences. We hope that in supporting Mind, we can one day achieve this.