After completing the below challenge, the end of April, which I must admit wasn't easy, I have decided to extend the fundraising mission and run a the Porto marathon on the 3rd November. Why? Well, firstly there's less hills than the SW coast path and secondly, having quietly (not to those closest to me) struggled my own ups and downs since, I'd like to give a further thank you to the CALM charity for all the amazing work they do. No pressure, but anyone that missed the last one, feel free to sponsor this one :)

....................................

From the 20th March - 18th April I will be running 400km over 30 days, this is 15km with a couple of rest days.

Although running 15km a day may not sound all that for some, having attempted it back in November for my own personal goal, I discovered it’s hard to go 30 days without something popping up, whether it’s injury, illness, normal constraints of work and family life or simply, time.

Running became my escape some time ago, as I found it a tremendous space to be able to think and helped get through some tricky times… it still does, and is part of my everyday exercise. The aim is to raise awareness and if I can raise a little money in doing so, that would be great too. Suicide is not an easy topic of conversation, actually, suicide just isn’t a conversation, I even struggled simply writing this! Today in the UK, mental health is much more spoken about but when you mention the word suicide, it naturally brings an uncomfortable silence and it’s very hard to know what to say to someone who has been affected by losing someone. 30 years ago my Father took his own life at the age of just 43 having suffered much of his life with hidden depression that he managed to mask incredibly well. I was 16 at the time.

When anyone is affected by losing someone to suicide, the berievement is somehow different, as there’s never any closure, the people who are left ask themselves ‘why’ for the rest of their lives, and it’s near impossible to make peace with the loss.

In the UK alone over 5000 people take their own lives, 75% being male and the ripple affect of one suicide directly impacts 135 people. One of the biggest barriers to suicide prevention is the stigma surrounding mental health issues and suicide itself. Misconceptions, fear, often prevent individuals from seeking help or discussing their struggles openly. Initiatives promoting open conversations, empathy, and understanding are essential in breaking down these barriers.