I'm running the London Marathon this year, in support of the Mental Health Foundation, and this is a plea for your hard-earned cash, for a very good cause ❤️

The Mental Health Foundation believes we all have the right to good mental health. It believes that protecting our mental health proactively prevents us from struggling. It funds research, practical projects, provides advice and information to the public and tries to push Governments to create better policies to care for us.

It also provides advice and support to friends and family, who love someone who is struggling with their mental health.

In the summer of last year, we lost our friend Jon, known as Gitts, to his mental health. I'm running this race in his memory. He cheered me on in Cork, when I trained for my first marathon, over a decade ago (see photo above, he's on my right shoulder), and I think of him often, on every training run as I prepare to run in his name.

I'm also running this to honour the one in four of us (like me) that have experienced poor mental health at some point, and because mental health public services have never been more stretched and pressured. And also because life feels so much harder for so many of us the past few years.

With that in mind, I am grateful for any contribution, I know times are hard, but this money will do so much good. Please give whatever you can, every penny will be appreciated. My company ‘Cause will also be making a contribution, and match funding some donations.

I'm so honoured to have been chosen by the Mental Health Foundation to run this race and I promise to do my best with fundraising, and the run itself, which I am really looking forward to. I’ve been running consistently now for almost a year, so hopefully it won’t be too dreadful this time!

So this one’s for everyone we’ve lost, with the hope that the money raised might help other individuals and families having a tough time. For Gitts, for Carla, for Davey, and all of us.

Cariad mawr,

Bethan xxxxx

PS I promise to share disgusting run photos to prove I am training.