Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

In 2018, I made one of the best decisions of my life...I joined Fitmums and Friends. This was in order to improve my physical fitness, alongside my recovery from mental ill health.

2020 has been a difficult year for many and I started the year in a very bad place, coming out of crisis after a mental health relapse. However, running has helped to keep me stable and I have achieved so much this year. I finished the year with 2,020 Miles for 2020, made up of 225 runs with over 325 hours of running, 41,596 feet of elevation and I overcame my previous failure of being able to run solo.

However, none of this would have been possible without the support, advice and coaching that I received from the Fitmums and Friends family.

I have previously raised money for mental health but now wish to be able to raise funds to help others to access support to be active, knowing that this will not just improve their physical health but their mental health too. Running reminds me that even in my weakest moments...I am Strong.

So, with that in mind, over the course of 2021, I am going to run 52 half marathons - 1 per week, and 12 marathons - 1 per month, to raise funds for the Mike Barlow Memorial Fund.

Mike Barlow, Fitmums and Friends coach, passed away in October 2020. Mike's passion was coaching and supporting people to become active and to reap the benefits of exercise.

In honour of Mike's memory, the Barlow family and Fitmums and Friends proudly launched the Mike Barlow Memorial Fund.

The fund will aim to offer help to anyone who may struggle to ordinarily access support to be active. This will include help to buy a junior or adult membership, a piece of kit, or funding a training course such as Leader in Running Fitness (LIRF). The aim is to ensure financial hardship is not a barrier to people taking part in activity with or volunteering for Fitmums and Friends.

Please visit my Facebook Challenge page to keep up to date with updates and progress at https://www.facebook.com/the5212challenge

Thank you for your support.

David