Story
My first ever marathon! Come onnnn! Actually, 42km... Christ... what have I got myself into here.
I've never run anywhere near this distance... so I'll be starting 2025 with a big training journey leading into spring. I'll be updating you all on my progress on instagram.com/roureyno if you want to follow along.
Donations
If you've been looking for a reason to donate to one of the best mental health charities, look no further!
Want a personalised video message from me? Donate £40+ with your video message wishes (birthdays/shout out/weddings/calling your mate a twat etc.) and DM me on Instagram. I'll do the first 100. I'm not on Cameo or any of those other cringey sites so this is your only chance for all that business. Big love x
Why I'm Running
I think we should ALL have mental health check ups as regularly as we have haircuts! With each trim we'd cut back our mental struggles, and build a better understanding of how to live stable and functional lives. We'd walk out feeling slicker and more together than before, just like a fresh haircut makes us feel!
Unfortunately, our underfunded and under-prioritised healthcare services desperately struggle to supply the help we need. Here in the UK, the shockingly long waiting lists can literally kill, with 1 in 10 people waiting for treatment ending up in A&E.
In era's past, many people died due to problems with their TEETH. Today, we look back stunned by this, often joking about their unfortunate lack of knowledge and their resulting fragility. But in the future, more civilised societies will look back at us with the same sympathy. Probably joking about our stressful lives, stunned by the lack of prioritisation given to mental wellbeing and support.
Today, mental decay kills, just as tooth decay killed in the past. And even if you can somehow deal with life's stresses and keep your mental wellbeing intact, emotional stress is a major cause of physical illness, from cancer to autoimmune conditions and many other chronic diseases. And our modern world seems almost built to induce stress.
Our whole socioeconomic system operates primarily on atomisation and self-interest, we are divided and forced to compete at every turn. This is a way of living far removed from the communal and interdependent environment that humans evolved to thrive in. The system creates inequality, toxic social pressures, tribalism, and immobile & unhealthy lifestyles. It is no wonder almost all of us suffer with some kind of mental difficulty or illness. We live in conditions perfect for their development.
So I am running for mental wellbeing and broad scale system change.
Who I'm Running & Raising For
Sadly, mental health treatment today still largely relies on charities. And these are the true angels & saints of our modern world. So a massive big up the Mental Health Foundation for all they do. And huge love to everyone who supports them, either by donating here on this page, or elsewhere.
Check out the Foundations starting tips (backed by research) for better mental health here: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/our-best-mental-health-tips