I have been on antidepressants since I was 10 - I am nearly 30. I can’t really remember my life as a kid without mental health challenges. Nobody deserves to live miserably, but as someone who has come out the other side nearly 20 years later after going to hell and back multiple times, it probably makes sense I look to give at least a little something back to a charity doing wonderful work.

I got into running, painfully and slowly, on the back of my friends being obsessed with it throughout high school and college. From going for my couch to 5k runs in the dark at 5am on unlit streets so nobody could see me, to now having my first marathon and ultra on the horizon, it’s remarkable what an impact this has had on me. I’m going to enjoy this challenge, because I enjoy running and I enjoy being able to smile without the weight of my mental health on my shoulders now.

My ankle ligaments will not smile at me though, as I’ll be doing this on top of my planned training for a marathon in October and Ultra next year. That means that when I do the Manchester half on 19th May, I’ll then run an extra 5k as a CALM cool down. In total, it’s an extra 155km over the month on top of my planned 170km~ training.

If anybody reads this far, I appreciate you clicking on the page. If you fancy joining me for a run, please message me 🏃🏼

Want to join me in supporting a good cause? I'm doing a 5K run a Day in May for Campaign Against Living Miserably and your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate £5 or £500. Every little bit helps. Thank you for your support.

We’re the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and we’re taking a stand against suicide. That means standing against feeling hopeless, standing up to stereotypes and standing together to show life is always worth living. Every week 125 people in the UK take their own lives. CALM exists to change this - by offering life-saving services, provoking national conversation, and bringing people together to reject living miserably.