<p><a title="www.rachaelsmarathonrun.com" href="http://www.rachaelsmarathonrun.com">www.rachaelsmarathonrun.com</a></p> <p>Many of you will know that I&rsquo;m running the Virgin London Marathon in April 12 - my first marathon!</p> <p>I&rsquo;m running on behalf of the charity <strong>Mind</strong>, the mental health charity. Mind provide vital information and advice, and campaign to promote and protect good mental health for everyone.</p> <p>In the past my family has been turned upside by mental illness. And I've seen friends suffer from depression and suicide. So I'm doing this for a cause that really means a lot to me.</p> <p>Many of you may know what a devastating effect mental health issues can have, not only on the person but their family and friends too. <strong>One in four people will suffer from mental distress at some point.&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>It&rsquo;s no question that a denial of the situation, and a refusal to acknowledge the illness, contributes to it escalating. But more importantly it also means the person suffering (and their family) is not getting the help they have needed for a long time... This was the case for my family.</p> <p>And this is why we must break down the barriers surrounding mental illness. <strong>A friend may find it easy to tell you they feel unwell physically, but what if they are struggling with an illness outside of their own understanding?</strong></p> <p><strong>If you&rsquo;re sat near three other people and reading this, one of you will have a mental health issue at some point.&nbsp;</strong> Whether it&rsquo;s a serious anxiety or depression or worse. Maybe you already have. And far too many people are still not getting the treatment that they need, when they need it.</p> <p>So I would really like to do this for Mind and all those families that Mind helps, and all those individuals who are able to acknowledge that they need help.&nbsp; I understand that the support Mind gives them and their families is invaluable.&nbsp;</p> <p>Most of my friends and family will be aware what a challenge this will be for me. I really wasnt a runner before this!! At all! But please have faith in me, I&rsquo;m extremely determined to do this, and especially on behalf of such a good charity and a cause so close to my heart. I dont want to break records - I just want to finish!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I will keep you up to date on my training with my blogs so that you can be sure how determined I am. Your support will help me get out for those runs!<br> Please sponsor me as much or as little as you can afford, every penny goes to Mind!</p> <p>Ray x</p>