I’m 50 this year! An amazing milestone ( I have often thought I would never make)  in a life that has been beset with many joys and sorrows.

I have chosen to raise money for Mind as they have been an enormous help through my struggles with mental health.

I first became ill at university ( as many do) and have suffered the consequences of this collapse on and off over the last 30 years.

Mental health to the onlooker can in no way describe the pain and anguish of what is going on internally with that person.

As an analogy ( using skydiving) just try to imagine sitting at the open door of an aeroplane on fire with no parachute. Imagine the feelings, the fear that this would create and in many ways this can be how one feels when you are in crisis with feelings of helplessness  and pain that put you in an unbearable situation

For me I have had support from family and friends but also a lot of help through Mind who are still involved at the moment.  Not everyone will have been this fortunate.

Mental health issues can happen to anyone and I would encourage you to give, especially now with the raised awareness of mental health problems due to Covid..

Alec Stevenson