I'm running the Hackney Half on 22nd May in memory of my friend Jake, who took his own life on 28th December.

Jake did the Hackney Half last year, and the image of him crossing the line beaming from ear to ear is one that we will all cling to for the rest of our days. It seemed a fitting tribute to try to emulate him and bring home a second half. 

I can guarantee I will look nowhere near that graceful or composed, but will endeavour to drag myself over the line nonetheless.

In the aftermath of the pandemic and with NHS mental health services stretched beyond comprehension, round the clock mental health support has never been more important.

This is especially true for young men, who for all the encouragement by public figures and organisations, still find it difficult to verbalise the daily anguish of depression and seek help. The male suicide rate hit a two-decade high during the pandemic, and suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK.

Below are three ways in which donations can be used to help SANE beneficiaries:
 £10 – provides a vulnerable person in need with 5 personalised text messages
 £30 – enables a professional to moderate SANE’s online forums for 2 hours
 £50 – allows five persons to receive in-depth personal call from a professional

Donations of any value are greatly appreciated, and you can follow my training progress via the Strava link on this page.

I hope to do Jake, his girlfriend Amy and his family proud come race day, and encourage anybody experiencing a low ebb to reach out to someone - be it an organisation like SANE, friends, family or even myself. Let's all be really bloody good to each other.

In the words of Jake's favourite band, Gang of Youths:

I will not lie
I will not loathe
I will not waste any days I have left in my soul
But I will stand
I will stand now in your might
I will not crash
I will not burn
But I will pay any debt to your hands that I owe
For your still
Your still unbeaten life