18 August 2024 update - 3 weeks to go

Not long to go so thought I’d send a little update. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. I’ve amended my fundraising target to see how much can be raised for this important foundation seeing as though your generosity has already taken me over the original target of £500.

I’ve been training fairly consistently since February - trying to get out 2 or 3 times a week - with a few gaps for different reasons. Mostly it’s been due to struggling mentally but remembering why I’m doing the run has got me back out again quite quickly and managed to refocus. I’ve now done a fair few longer runs with a couple of half marathon distances to prove to myself I can do it so physically I am there for the run in a few weeks time.

The past year has been the toughest one for me so far - and it seems to have lasted a lifetime. This run comes in between anniversaries from last year. First, losing Tony, my stepdad, suddenly, to a heart attack on our family holiday last August and being involved in the immediate efforts of trying to help him. This was very shortly followed by the loss of what should have been our second child a couple of weeks later, finding out at a time when we should have been seeing how well they were developing. Things which have taken so long to start talking about - it’s never easy - but knowing deep down it’s talking about them which will help process properly. Talking does help!

The running has helped (most of the time) and given me time to think and try and process these things. Still a way to go and I’ll try and set new targets once this first challenge has been completed (I applied for London but wasn’t successful). I appreciate all the support so far and any more that comes in will push me towards that finish line and beyond. Small steps.

February 2024

The Mental Health Foundation is the UK’s charity for everyone’s mental health. With prevention at the heart of what they do, the Mental Health Foundation aim to find and address the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive.

If I were to write one of these this time last year, I’d have no idea how to start. My understanding of mental health was through teaching and promoting strategies to our wonderful primary school children of how to look after our mental health.

There’s still a stigma that mental health is such a negative thing but, everyone has mental health, it’s something we need to be more aware of and understand how to look after - just as, if not more, importantly than our physical health. Too many believe that, if others know you’re struggling, it may be seen as weakness and that’s why people don’t talk. The mind can be a lonely place especially when your mental health has been affected in a negative way.

However, we often see the outpouring of love and support from close circles and support networks when people do struggle and I have had to lean on mine this past year - something I will be forever grateful for.

Ive always felt I’ve had a good control of my mental health. However, with 2 significant bereavements in my life in the space of a few weeks at the back end of Summer 2023, trying to deal with the grief whilst processing a traumatic event floored me. It takes a lot of energy trying to organise your thoughts, emotions and feelings - the mind can be a lonely place which can consume you.

But, I knew it was important to talk about what was happening - and it helps. To family, friends, professionals or even writing to yourself - taking that time to unload and share your thoughts and feelings lifts the weight and the right people will help and support you.

There’s a mental health crisis on the horizon for both children and adults; the work charities like the Mental Health Foundation do is going to be vital in the building of necessary support to try and tackle mental health issues and support those who need it whether they have a close support network, like I was lucky enough to have, or they don’t. With prevention at the heart of what they do - the money raised will hopefully go to support better understanding around how you can cope if that time ever comes when you feel you can’t.

This run gives me a positive focus - it’s an opportunity for me to do something in tribute to those who we lost in such a short space of time last year as well as to my family who have been affected by what happened.

Raising for the Mental Health Foundation is fitting for where I am currently in my life and I appreciate any support and donations which will go on to help those in need and help get me to that finish line, one step at a time.