I'm running the London Marathon to raise money for the University of Bristol's Healthy Minds program. 

I studied abroad at the University of Bristol as a visiting student from Cornell University during the Spring Semester of my junior year back in 2014.

When I got my acceptance letter, I was excited for the opportunity and wasn't nervous or worried at all about the experience I was going to have. However, for various reasons, I had a difficult time adjusting to my study abroad life at Bristol. It got to the point where I almost left to return home early. However, the university provided me with helpful resources to help me feel less homesick and lonely, and I was able to finish out the semester with positive memories. I look back at my study abroad experience and acknowledge that it was tough, but I am thankful for how the experience  helped me gain independence and made me stronger.

I am running my second marathon on April 28, 2019 to raise money for the University of Bristol's Healthy Minds program. Physical activity has been proven to boost mood and reduce feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression. The Healthy Minds program was established to help University of Bristol students with mental health difficulties become more active and maintain this behavior in a supportive, friendly environment. The user-led program includes sessions with an activity mentor, a tailored activity plan and support for future health maintenance, as well as access to a range of classes, clubs, and sporting opportunities.

The program has yielded clinically significant improvements in well-being among participants and has positively impacted more than a hundred students over the past two years with the help of donations from generous supporters. I want to help grow this program so that it can be sustainable and available to more students for years to come. I hope you can join me in supporting this impactful initiative.

For more information about the University of Bristol's Healthy Minds program, please visit https://www.bristol.ac.uk/student-counselling/healthy-minds.

To follow my training journey, you can find me on Instagram at @theguiangster!

Thank you in advance for all of your support!