The fact you're reading this means that the ridiculousness of this challenge has, at the very least, hooked you into wondering what the hell i'm doing! So.....

I'm taking part in the 'Equinox 24' race, which is a non-stop 24 hour race that takes place in the shadows of Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, over the weekend of the 21-22 September 2019. The aim is to complete as many laps of the 10km loop as possible in the timeframe. Traditionally, competitors take part in teams, however, perhaps unsurprisingly, i skipped that lesson in common sense and went straight to the "solo runner" option. You may ask, or rather i hope you ask; why?!

I'm taking part to try and raise £2,000 for the charity, Young Minds. The remit of these guys is to fight for young people's mental health, specifically children, adolescents and young adults. They do an amazing job to champion good mental health in young people, but also campaign tirelessly for provisions and services to improve for those who suffer from ill mental health. Such initiatives by them include the establishment of a parents' helpline for those with nowhere else to turn, training and supporting teaching professionals to provide better cover for schools and also campaigning for better healthcare provision when it comes to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). 

There is also a personal element to this in that i have seen the effect that poor mental health can have on an individual and their circle of family and friends, and ultimately the consequences of it not being identified or treated in time. So therefore, I am a keen advocate of promoting good mental health from the earliest point possible. If we can get things right with the younger generation whilst they're still young, then it will help everyone in the long run. 

So, please donate what you can!

Thanks,

Sam