A smile can make you look happy to other people around you and externally, but internally it can also paint a picture of somebody who desperately needs help - or somebody who is suffering alone. This is exactly how I felt in this photo.

I just wanted to take the time to let everyone on here know that I will be running the London Marathon again on the 21st April 2024 for Mind Charity - a charity extremely close to my heart.

Everyone has had their own battles that they’ve had to face and overcome, and some people don’t overcome them at all, but instead continue with their life as normal, and hide their problems/issues behind a smile. Today’s society has forced people to feel this way, as the stigma around mental health makes us feel as if we can’t/ shouldn’t speak our mind when times are tough. This is disgusting and wrong, and I want to do as much as I can to make a change. For those of you who feel this way, please drop a me a message, as I promise you are not alone. It is okay not to be okay. Speak your mind - it does NOT make you any weaker - it actually shows courage and determination, and this should be the message we spread. For those of you who are suffering and still showing up every single day, I salute you. There is always light at the end of the tunnel, and there will be people to guide you to the light - including myself if you need my advice.

Because of this, I am dedicating this run to all the brave and courageous people out there who are battling with their mental health and their own mind, the people who we’ve tragically lost, and the people who have overcome their battle with their mind and continue to spread the message of love and peace.

Nobody should ever feel like they are alone, but society has made us feel as if we are. We shouldn’t be told to “man up” if we are anxious or depressed. We should be listened to, we should be accepted for who we are and what we’re going through. We should all feel as if we can reach out to organisations like Mind Charity for help. Tragically, for so many people, not one of these things is a reality, and this needs to
change desperately.

Please always be kind, as you don’t know what’s going on in somebody else’s life. Treat people how you would like to be treated, and finish each day with one act of kindness. Hold out a helping hand for those that need it, and check in on your friends and family. If somebody is quiet at work, or one of your friends has been absent, an out the blue text of “How are you?” goes so far. It makes that person feel loved and valued, and for so many they typically feel alone.


If anybody wants to donate to this phenomenal cause and join me in pushing this message that ‘it is okay to be okay’ please use the link below - however big or small I will extremely grateful.