Poor mental health has played a significant part in my life, especially in my younger and teen years when things out of my control started to go completely wrong and I started to spiral. Luckily I had an incredible support network full of professionals and friends, who never gave up on me when situations became unimaginable and life got really tough.

After taking the time to really work on myself and undo some of damage from past events I have a wider understanding of mental health and how our brains work. I have also met some extraordinary people on the same journey who also have changed they way they view things.I now try to see the positive in everything where possible, I strive to challenge myself and use negative experiences to learn, grow and become stronger.I also found running...running has changed my life and my mind forever for the better.

Sadly mental health has also played an even bigger part in my families life. I never met my Grandad as he took his own life before I was born. His battle with his mind caused so much pain to those involved and consequently my own Dad suffered with severe mental health troubles for as long as I can remember before also tragically taking his own life in 2016. This changed my life, yet I refuse to be a victim of Depression nor let history repeat itself again.Both my Grandad and my Dad could not be saved nor can the pain, anger or endless questions that remain be answered by the ones left behind, but maybe we can save someone else the pain of suicide. By openly talking about my own experiences hopefully others can find comfort or relate and together we can make a change.

We are all learning by experiences that make us more resilient every day. Together we need to shout how important it is to reach out for help and stop the judgment surrounding mental health as it will affect us all or someone we love at some point.

Mind is a charity that is there to support people that are struggling, to help, to remind everyone that rock bottom can be a lonely place but that no one is truly alone in the way they feel.

By running the Brighton Marathon for Mind I want to show that hard things are worth doing. Good things happen when you don't give up, most of all I would like to convey that in the depth of darkness that (no matter how small) there is always hope.

Together we will not stop fighting, we are not done yet.