2 years ago I ran the Edinburgh Marathon, and raised over £900 for Macmillan Cancer Support. The training was hard. The miles were long. I cried at the end, and I swore I'd never do it again... 

But I work in an industry blighted by mental health issues. I have friends and colleagues fighting battles everyday that they don't share with anyone. I've seen loved ones wrestle with demons they don't think they can ask for help facing. I've lost people who didn't feel they could fight anymore. 

Mental health matters. So on 26th April I'm going to pound out 26 miles on the streets of London to raise money for an amazing charity that works hard to support people with mental illness, and to raise awareness and change perceptions around mental health. 

1 in 4 of us will experience some form of mental illness in our lives. Through friends and loved ones it will affect us all. Every one of us. It's likely that someone you know is struggling with depression, or anxiety, or some other form of mental illness, right now. If you can't think of who that person is, it's because they haven't felt that they can speak out about it. 

Rethink Mental Illness is an excellent charity that provides vital support and services, and gives a voice to those living with Mental Illness. The work they do makes it possible for those people to live a fulfilling life - and they're working to make sure that no one has to fight alone. 

I'm asking you to sponsor me - because your donation will be what gets me up at 5am to put in the training miles on freezing January mornings, because your donation will keep me heading to the finish line when my legs are screaming and my will is gone... and because your donation will pay for the services and support that people with mental illness desperately need. 

Your donation will save a life. 

Thank you for reading. Thank you for donating. Thank you for sharing.