Welcome to my Just Giving fundraising page! I am running the EMF Edinburgh Marathon for Health in Mind - promoting positive mental health in order to raise as much money as possible.They are a fantastic Charity working with and for the people of Scotland and I would be so grateful if you could take the time to sponsor me to help the cause and to motivate me in my training!

This Marathon will be one of many physical challenges I will be taking on to support the charity who provide support and guidance to those who are suffering with poor mental health and facing personal crisis.

Suicide is now the biggest killer of men under 40 in the UK. As a result, we need to encourage people to start to talk about depression much more openly. In time, creating a culture where those suffering in silence, fearing the repercussions of speaking out, can talk openly about their illness. There is still stigma surrounding depression, anxiety and other mood disorders and the more we talk about this, the less alien it will become. 1 in 4 people will suffer from poor mental health in their lifetime, whether it's you, a family member or friend - the support from charities like 'Health in Mind' can genuinely be the difference between life and death.  

I have had my own battles with poor mental health and have come to realise that by talking to people you trust and by being open about your struggles can help on the road to recovery. After years of struggling with my own poor mental health I now take medication which stabilises my mood as I have bipolar disorder. With medication, the loving support of my wife, friends and family I have seen the light at the end of the tunnel. If the money raised from this fundraising page can help just one person find their way out of the darkness then it will be worthwhile. 

Be kind to others. It's okay to not be okay. It's good to talk.