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On the 21st July 2016, our mix of Designers, Client handlers, Directors and our PA, will all put on our trainers and head to Battersea Park on a 5.6K race, to raise money for our chosen charity- MIND- for better mental health.

Earlier in the year, one of our close friends and colleagues Matt, incredibly sadly, took the decision to take his own life due to an ongoing battle with depression.

Matt was somebody who was very close to our hearts, and it is still an incredibly painful time for a lot of people here, and for his family, friends and partner.

Matt had wonderful and understanding people around him, but for everyone that sadly isn't the case.

For some reason, a lot of people do not understand mental health and sadly in 2016 it's still a taboo subject. Some think sufferers just need to cheer up and get on with it- but for a lot of people, its a constant black cloud over their heads, which feels absolutely impossible to shift, and something that most cannot comprehend the severity of. 

If you had an obvious physical pain and broke your leg, and felt you had to deal with it alone and behind closed doors, or you spoke out and people in your work and personal world maybe didn't understand the suffering, it would seem unfathomable- but with mental health problems, a lot just don't seem to get it and this is precisely what happens. 

They can sometimes suffer in silence, or even when shared amongst loved ones, they cannot see a way of making their black cloud blue again-  and give up, which is beyond devastating for themselves and those that surround them. They need regular professional support and the upmost compassion to help them see that inkling of light, to get them back to the person they once were.

Every year, 1 in 4 of us with experience a mental health problem, but hundreds of thousands of people are still struggling.

Our chosen charity MIND has this beautiful vision-

'We wont give up until EVERYONE experiencing a mental health problem gets both support and respect'

Lets talk about it, be open about it, and create awareness, so that more sufferers on an uphill battle, know that help is ready and waiting in the form of MIND. Even if we only help one person- how incredible would that be?

Painfully we can't help Matt, but what we can do, is - enjoy the lovely memories of him, create awareness, and raise as much money as possible for others suffering, to hopefully prevent another loss to this world and help get a few smiles back.

Let's get started, and run for a beautiful human being.

Vanessa x