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Thanks for visiting my Just Giving page. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails.   Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.                          I am running the Windsor Half Marathon on 25th September to raise money for a charity called MIND in memory of my wonderful cousin, Alex. Alex was two years younger than me and we spent nearly all our childhood together. Every summer holiday and most Christmas’ were spent in Groby, Leicester where Alex lived with my auntie and uncle. Neither of us had siblings so we were very close and thought of each other as brother and sister. Alex had an amazing sense of humour and my main memory spent with Alex as a child, teenager and into our adult life was filled with laughter. Alex was very passionate about golf and motorbike racing which both he excelled in. My cousin was deeply caring and kind. Such an exceptional person who could do anything he put his mind to. Sadly Alex also suffered with bouts of depression, not that you would have known if you had met him. Tragically we lost Alex on 7th December 2006, Alex was 27 years of age. Depression and other mental health issues have long been a difficult subject to talk about and understand. However the Government and the NHS have now realised the severity of this invisible condition and are taking steps to raise the profile of mental health problems and encourage those who suffer to seek help they desperately need. 1 in 4 people will suffer some form of depression this year. Thankfully charities such as MIND are offering services and support to people who need their help in a confidential, safe and non-judgemental environment to help them and their families understand their condition. With the pace, demands and pressures in life ever increasing cases of mental health issues are at an all time high, with these pressures often proving tragically too much for some with their families and friends painfully unaware of how bad things are until it’s too late. Sadly this is what happened to my family. My cousin was an amazing person and loved so deeply and we miss him every day. Thank you again for sponsoring me it is very much appreciated. Vanessa xxx

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