This mad quest to run this race began back in 2019 when I decided to enter into the ballot... almost sure I wouldn't get in but did it as a laugh... I got a ballot place first time...

After a short deliberation on whether I should do it, I realised how much of a once in a lifetime opportunity this was. COVID came along in 2020 and my place in the race was shifted to October 2021. However during training in 2021, I sustained an injury which meant I had to postpone my place once again.

We are now here in 2022! 

During the bleak lockdown months of the pandemic, each and everyone of us reassessed what we understood as personal health and mental well-being. The things we took for granted, day in and day out were suddenly incredibly important. 

In November 2020, we had some very sad news that a close family friend had taken their own life. Ollie was 19 and had struggled with his mental health for years. His family, his friends and all that knew Ollie, couldn't make sense of a life taken so soon. Since then, its been a bit of a wake up call to monitor your own mental health and support others around you.

So in his memory and tribute to the Stubbs Family, I have decided to raise money for BLG Mind when I take to the streets of London on the 2nd October 2022 and run those amazing yet tiresome 26.2 miles!  

Minds Up is a free, in-school training programme developed by BLG Mind specifically for secondary school pupils. The programme increases young people’s awareness of poor mental health, helping them to recognise the signs and take action. Link to their website here: https://blgmind.org.uk/mental-health-training/minds-up/ 

Please donate what you can in the name of Oliver Stubbs.  

Freddie.