Thank you so much for taking a look at my fundraising page. I am most grateful to you for simply perusing the following, and hopefully increasing awareness of all those battling mental health problems. Any contribution towards my goal of raising £1000 is of course hugely appreciated.

This coming January, I will be running the La Sportiva Arc of Attrition by Mudcrew. This is a notoriously brutal ultra race along 100+ miles of the Cornish coastline. It begins at noon on Friday the 26th, with a cut-off at midnight on Saturday the 27th. This provides a mere 36 hours to complete the route. Given the time of year, weather conditions can be hugely challenging. The South West Coast Path, along which the race takes place, poses sections of serious technical difficulty. It comprises over four kilometres (almost 14,000 feet) of ascent/descent on rough terrain, across mud, rock and sand. The entire route is self-navigated, and a significant chunk of it will be run under the cover of winter darkness.

I am running this race with my friend Sophie Howard, who I met through our club, Hayle Runners. She is a terrific ultra-distance runner, having completed far more badass stuff than myself, but this will be our joint debut to the 100-miler distance.

A family friend of Sophie’s, Paul Minter, started the charity Head Up in order to stem the number of deaths by suicide within the military community. He has personally lost 14 friends to suicide – twice as many as KIA during his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. The ultimate aim of Head Up is to provide a non-militarised retreat centre where struggling members of the Armed Forces can receive holistic and personalised mental health treatment. Together with a group of fellow veterans, Paul is hoping to provide much needed support to those who falling through the cracks in current provision.

I myself am no stranger to mental health struggles. Furthermore, a few years ago, one of my cousins ended their own life. I never had the chance to know them well, but they were young and vibrant and alive, with a wonderful and supportive family. In the UK, and many other parts of the world, suicide is the leading cause of death for young people under the age of 35. My cousin never got to live into their 30’s.

I can only imagine the struggles endured by those who have seen and participated in war. To go through such experiences and return home to inadequate support and lack of understanding must be agonizing.

Despite progress in recent years, mental health illnesses still have a real stigma attached to them. Physical afflictions (a broken limb, a diagnosis of cancer) are readily discussed and shared and sympathised with. But not depression. It is rare for physical illnesses to be kept under wraps in the way mental health issues are. It can also be incredibly hard to know whether someone is unwell. Clinical Depression and PTSD are “invisible” illnesses, with sufferers adapting to the negative stigma and learning to hide what they are going through. This is particularly an issue within the Armed Forces, where a traditionally macho culture further stifles conversation and seeking necessary help.

Open dialogue about mental health is simply so important. Life is precious – even when it doesn't feel that way. But, when gripped by past trauma or simply feeling unhappy day after day for months on end, seeing this can become all but impossible. To all those who felt unable to keep going: Rest in Peace.

And to everyone still here, still struggling: you’re not alone. Please reach out for help. I promise that you deserve it. Breathe deep.

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