James and I are taking on the Great North Run on 8th September to fundraise for Mind - a fantastic charity which focuses on supporting those who struggle with their mental health. As someone working in the mental health field, I am lucky to have witnessed the great work that Mind do first hand and have seen the positive impact that this has on people's lives.

Those who know me will know that running has been a positive outlet for me for some time, and whilst some days I'd rather stay at home, once I'm out there pounding the pavements I can feel the stress and worry of life begin to melt away. Running and mental health are hugely linked for me, however for many the solution isn't that simple. For that reason, I decided to use my running to fundraise for Mind to support those in need of support with their mental health. I've never run a half marathon before, and James and I are really excited to be running the largest half marathon in the world for such a worthy cause!

All donations, no matter how big or small, will help Mind to provide support for those with a diagnosis of mental health. In 2022/23, Mind responded to 130,973 queries to their support and information helplines, and their mental health information was access 23.3 million times. The Local branches of Mind also directly supported almost 470,000 people. Your support will keep me motivated on the days I don't want to get out there and train - so thank you in advance for any donations!

Clare x