Come October, myself and a glamorous crew of keen runners will descend on Bilbao, for the 42Km race taking place this Autumn.

I will be running for the mental health charity Mind and representing The University of Portsmouth.

Now aside from the kind gesture, what on earth made me want to run a marathon?

When you're experiencing a mental health problem, stumbling across supportive and reliable information can change your life. And that’s what Mind do.

After facing a difficult time with my own long existing mental health problems, This past year I withdrew from university. Getting my life back on track since then has not been easy. It's taken me time to recover physically as well as emotionally and it has also had an effect on the people around me. 

Over the course of several months, I've utilised the support of people, family, and friends and in some moments of crisis I've turned to Mind. Fortunately, I made it back to my academic studies this year and I'm now in a position where I not only have the much-needed support in place for myself but I'm also in a position to help provide the same if not greater support, to the 1 in 4 people across the UK that will experience a mental health related problem.

Prior experience ? 

I once partook in a 5k regional race for my squadron at the age of 14. Since then, no such relevant experience has been gained. 

(*It’s gonna ba a challenge) 

If you'd like to support me in my efforts to fundraise for Mind, Any donation is welcome and much appreciated All donations go directly to Mind and I'd like to take this moment to say thank you.

This is in memory of a friend lost in September. I'd like to dedicate this marathon to Hannah.