In April 2025, I’ll be running the London Marathon in memory of my friend Olly, who we tragically lost in September 2020 after an ongoing battle with his mental health. Olly was truly one in a million and I’ll never forget the sound of his laugh or his smile, which could light up a room. He truly was one of the most talented and inspiring people I have ever had the privilege to know.

Even though 1 in 4 people have mental health problems, most of us don’t get the help we need. This has to change. Therefore, I'm going to be running in aid of Mind. Their work changes lives across England and Wales by making mental health an everyday priority. By standing up to the injustices which make life harder for those of us with mental health problems. Mind offer help whenever you might need it through information, advice and local services. Bringing together an unstoppable network of individuals and communities, people who care about mental health to make a difference.

As well as raising money, I’d like to raise awareness for mental health support and suicide prevention along the way. This is a topic that is very close to my heart and I feel strongly that support should be more easily accessible to those who need it. It is so important that we feel able to talk about our mental health without stigma or fear of judgement, a lesson I wish I had learnt earlier in life but am grateful to have discovered at the right time. Everyone has their own demons and together we can fight them.

I’ll be documenting my journey to race day on Instagram (@LondonMaraBon), both the ups and the downs, as well as sharing details of where you can go for support if you or a loved one are in need. If you could spare even the smallest amount of either time or money it really would mean the world to me (running buddies are always very much appreciated).

If you’d like to find out more about Olly’s story and why I’m running in his memory, head over to @ollystalkingturtles on Instagram 🐢🌈⭐️

This is for you Ol, I hope I can make you proud 💚