I am running the London 2016 Marathon for the James Wentworth-Stanley Memorial Fund and asking you to donate whatever you can, knowing that each donation can have such a meaningful impact on someone's life. 

James Wentworth-Stanley took his own life, aged 21, on December 15th 2006. Like so many young men and women who choose to end their lives, James had so much to live for. He was bright, good looking and charming, a keen sportsman with a large and loving family, a huge number of friends plus a myriad of interests and dreams for the future.

At the time I had just completed my first term at Newcastle University where James was a second year student. I did not know him personally, but have friends in common and I saw the shock and sadness in everyone; he was clearly an exceptional person. James' brother and cousin are good friends and speaking with them spurred me on to run the London Marathon. 

James had no history of mental illness nor depression. He was not a heavy drinker nor a drug user. Ten days following a minor operation, James' decline from being his normal, happy self to be anxious, depressed and ultimately suicidal was rapid and those close to him were unable to appreciate the severity of what was
happening. This swift descent is terrifying for young men and also to those around them.

The James Wentworth-Stanley Memorial fund has been set up by James's parents to help raise awareness of anxiety, depression and suicide among young people and to tackle the shocking statistic that suicide is the second largest cause of death among young men in the UK.  

It is funds such as this that can provide support to those that need it and when they need it most so please help me in raising as much as possible for this great cause. 

Best wishes,

Fred Dunlop