Most people who know me don't know I've wrestled with depression and anxiety for most of my adult life. Not particularly pleasing to say out loud, but there you go. Many healthcare professionals recommend exercise as a natural therapy to combat mental issues like depression, and I've been running for a few years as a way of keeping my life on an even keel. I'm fortunate, most of the time I manage to outrun the black dog but it's always there.

I started running in a more structured way in the lead-up to my 40th birthday with the aim of completing my first marathon in the US. I needed a fixed goal and finishing the Big Sur Marathon in California fitted the bill. Since then I have run many half marathons and have competed in the Antarctic Ice Marathon, the Mount Everest Marathon and the Sahara Marathon ... the next challenge, and probably the biggest, is the North Pole Marathon.

I should point out I'll never be a good runner, my usual finishing position is somewhere near the back ... but someone has to be! I haven't had a running DNF (did not finish) so far and I don't intend the North Pole to be my first. Your kind donations will spur me on to the finish line!

The whole trip is self-funded, so anything and everything donated through this page will go direct to Mind. Thanks!