Hey, you wonderful human! Thanks for dropping by. You may know who I am in real life or be dropping by from the internet, but I just want to introduce myself.

Hi, I'm George, and sometimes getting up in the morning and opening the curtains in my head is like looking out to a glorious meadow full of bumblebees and blooming wildflowers. But other mornings it's like looking out the porthole of a rusty fishing boat that's falling apart on rocky seas... that are also on fire. 

During times in my life, the latter has been too consistent, and as much as I dramatise for humour, it's also a deflection mechanism. 90% of the time, I've never truly known what is wrong in my head, and on one too many hundred occasions, I've not been there for myself, let alone been able to seek the things that could help. Despite this, I'm lucky enough to have a circle of loving family and caring friends who do support me through my phases.

Truth is, I know I'm lucky. Some people don't have those groups to fall back on when they slip off the pavement into the busy road of mental chaos. Because spirals happen and for me, they hit hard.

I want to help raise money for Mind to give those in darker times a circle to fall back on. A circle of resources, ears and discussions that can help alleviate some of the squiggles that truly exist in an individual's life. It really isn't easy finding someone to help, let alone talk to. I just want to be able to help those strangers I don't know with rain clouds and bowling ball chests to have a pair of hands to hold.

I began running in February 2022, during another charity event actually. The art of getting up in the morning with the sun, going out and getting fresh air and just having the simple task and goal of going for a run really helps me take a moment for myself. A moment to discuss my issues with myself. To listen to the birdsong (behind blaring metalcore in my earphones). To understand I am able to keep pushing one step at a time.

So I've decided to set this goal. To focus on getting myself somewhere while trying to help strangers in the process. I just want to be able to help others. We're all in this together in the end.

So, I'll see you at the finish line.

(Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.)