This October I’m going to run the Kielder half marathon to raise money for SLV. They’re an organisation who provide mental health services and education for people living in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka faced a tsunami in 2004 and has only recently seen the end of a 26-year civil war which brought immense suffering to the population. Many people have been left with mental health issues and the healthcare services don’t have the capacity to give everyone the support that is needed.

There are a number of charities working together with SLV (examples incl. Samutthana, Sri Lanka Youth, and UK-Sri Lanka Trauma Group) to tackle the widespread mental health problems that exist there. They are an organised community of volunteers who arrange activities for people with special needs, provide group therapies, art therapy, care in the community and education in schools, working to broaden people’s understanding of mental health and reduce the stigma attached to mental health issues.

All funds raised will go directly to SLV to keep their various mental health projects running. These projects have had a substantial impact on the communities and I hope to contribute to that in as many ways as I can!

Thanks for your support!

:)