I have never enjoyed running. I was the kid at school who always had some trick up her sleeve for avoiding the 1500 metre school run on Sports Day. The idea of it made me want to throw up.

So why have I signed up for this? Mainly because of my friend Sarah who in my eyes seemed to be the archetypal "SuperMum" of three young, gorgeous girls, always well-organised, always on her game, always cheerful throughout. But Sarah unexpectedly, and dramatically, had a mental breakdown last year. She then experienced chaos with bad reactions to medication and inadequate care in numerous psychiatric hospitals. It changed her sense of who she was and left her at rock bottom. Her experience was a shock to all of us who knew her - and this all happened at a time when many of us, myself included, was finding the world a bizarre, confusing place. A place of isolation. 

Like Sarah I have never suffered with mental health problems before, but the last 18 months - and Sarah's experience - has shown me how easy it is to unravel. I have never felt so alone, stressed and exhausted as I have in this period. I know many feel the same - and the right support can feel elusive.

So whilst I am a total novice (the couch potato), have barely done any training - for a variety of health reasons I started training late and then caught Covid in August at the peak of my training schedule - and I am still recovering, I want to do this run. For Sarah and for MIND, a charity who provides vital mental health advice and support during this critical time where services have never been needed more - and yet are at their most depleted. There has been so much focus on our physical health but our mental health is just as important.

I don't know if I will get through it and it is likely I will be running, walking and crawling my way to the end - but I've got to try. Please help me support this important cause - I would be so grateful!