Ten years ago I ran the Bath Half and I said never again. I didn’t realise then that I would experience a family tragedy that would motivate me to run again, that would make me say “to hell with the pain and the effort of training” because this thing is more important than anything.  This thing that happens and turns your world upside down and leaves you feeling empty and confused every day, heartbroken and worried for your family that is trying to cope and survive the unthinkable. 

Two years ago we lost a loved one in our family to suicide, a tale that is becoming all too familiar in our population of young men, who are struggling silently with mental health issues and are taking their own lives before they reach 30. 

My amazing family have decided to turn tragedy into positive action and have set up the Ostrich Foundation, a charity that will work tirelessly to find ways to provide help and support to young people that are facing mental health issues and need our help. The charity will work primarily in the Yorkshire Regions but will also support the work of Papyrus and CALM across the UK.  

Any funds that you donate will go directly to the charity and we will ensure that the funds are used to reach the people that need help most. Even the smallest donation will help, for example to fund part of an education programme for school teachers to have the right conversations with teenagers, or for counselling resources for those in need of help.

Thank you so much from me and all of our family, for your support x❤️X

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