It has taken a very long time for me to try and put into words the reasons why I am walking 100km to raise money for Renew (and dragging Olli along for the ride with me), nothing I can write can quite explain how important this charity is to me and how essential the services they provide are.

Renew are an amazing charity based in Essex that provide subsidised counselling session for both children and adults. Anyone who has tried to access NHS mental health services knows that they are overwhelmed, waitlists are painfully long and people are often offered virtual/ group therapy which isn’t always suitable. Often people can’t wait 6 months or longer for help and can’t afford to go private. Renew makes therapy accessible and ultimately saves lives.

Talking therapies are so important in helping people to find some hope when they are stuck in a dark place. Being taught to challenge the thoughts and voices in your head gives us a chance to decrease suicide rates but this can only be made possible by making therapy more accessible and less stigmatised.

Although I have not personally used Renew’s services, I was lucky enough to receive CBT through the NHS, after a very long wait and pretty terrible anti-depressant side effects, and I truly believe that it saved my life. Not only at the time did it allow me to think straight enough to come off anti-depressants, but it gave me the ability to challenge suicidal thoughts and intentions a few years later.

As well as the amazing services Renew provides they are run by an absolute powerhouse team and you really won’t find a more inspiring group of women! All money raised will go to support Renew to continue providing accessible counselling to as many people as possible.