Last year in England alone, 5,021 people took their own life. A truly heartbreaking and shocking statistic. Throughout 2020 I will be covering one kilometer for each person, whether by running, walking, cycling or even swimming. 

To put the distance into perspective, that's 60 miles per week for the whole year! 

All funds raised through this slightly bonkers distance challenge will go to Mind in Somerset, meaning it will go directly into helping the local community. Their purpose is to provide services and support to anyone affected by or vulnerable to mental illness, improving their quality of life and well-being. 

This is something extremely close to my heart having had my own struggles with mental health, but even more so having nearly lost my husband this year following a suicide attempt. There are no words to describe how thankful I am that he's still here and has been given a second chance at kicking depression's butt, but I realise not everyone is so lucky.

That's where you come in, and no, I'm not just here for your money! Head over to my Facebook page to find out how you can help support me and be a part of my journey. There will be details of other exciting events I have planned which you can get involved in www.facebook.com/5021km.

The more we talk about mental health and suicide prevention, the closer we will get to ending the stigma and discrimination people with mental health problems face. 

And for anyone struggling, please do reach out. If not to someone you know then call Mindline in Somerset on 01823 276 892. 8pm till 11pm – Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat & Sunday. A safe and confidential listening service. Or call the Samaritans on 116 123 - they're there for anyone who needs someone 24 hours a day. 

Thank you for reading 🙂

Emma

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.