This fundraising effort page is in memory of my cousin, William Hicks.

March is the month in which we lost Will. It will also be the first year we have been without him. Will was the same age as me and during our early years, he felt not only like a cousin, but like another brother and best friend; we were lucky enough to share so much of our childhood years together. Will had this unique ability to connect with all around him and to never exclude anyone. He is and always will be, loved so dearly by not only family, but by the enormous number of people that knew him and those that watched him perform in his band, The Jacques. 

The days are few and far between where myself and others do not think about Will. Coming to terms with his sudden loss is incredibly difficult. We will probably never understand why anyone so loved could take the path that he did, although many of us are now all too well aware of the mental health struggles endemic amongst young men. 

As such, in memory of Will, I will be running the Hackney Half Marathon this May. Through this fundraising effort in support of the mental health charity MIND, I hope to do some small part in helping raise awareness, so that others might reach out before they feel overburdened. For all that know me well, running has never been my forte, therefore, I am lucky enough to have one of my closest friends Charlie, not only run with me, but help support this cause. 

Please dig deep so that we can erase any surviving stigma surrounding mental illness, learning how to spot and to help those who might be in need, but don’t perhaps feel they are able to ask.

Any donations would be greatly appreciated and thank you in advance.

Love Fergus Xx