Henry Batten
Henry's page
Fundraising for Bipolar UK
Story
I'm sharing this story to offer insight into a world seldom discussed.
Bipolar is a word often used to describe things which change suddenly and randomly. We use it colloquially to jovially categorise things we don't understand. If asked to define it medically, I'm sure you would involve some reference to feeling happy and sad multiple times over a short period of time.
In my personal experience, I can only say that the medical manifestation is anything but our common definition.
To elaborate a little; Megs and I were together over 5 years, thick as thieves since our university days. In 2020 however, she was diagnosed with bipolar after a serious manic episode left her hospitalised. Over the next couple of years, this patterned into a series of manic 'highs' and depressive 'lows', several hospitalisations and a heap of medical intrusion. Ultimately in December of last year, she took her own life.
Megs was as tough as she was beautiful, but bipolar is a cruel, manipulative condition. It's not the stereotypical instant switch that flickers multiple times a day or week. It's a slow erosion of what defines yourself as you, caused by periodic destructive storms. In all that time, Megs fought so, so, unbelievably hard, picking herself up multiple times and embodying the definitions of resilience and courage.
Bipolar took away our relationship.
Bipolar took away her life.
Endurance is word I think aptly describes dealing with bipolar. The hardest thing about the treatment of it, is that it requires time, understanding, awareness and ultimately, funding to deal with. While I cannot change some of those things, a little extra funding, and a little more talking, is certainly something I can try and generate.
In the spirit of endurance then, I'm running the Peak District Ultra Challenge 100km race on the 8th July, for Bipolar UK. I'm taking on the continuous challenge, meaning running both 50km legs in a single day. Whilst a sore body may be insignificant compared to rebuilding yourself after successive bipolar events, if Megs could endure it for 2 years yet still achieve the accomplishments she did, I think I can manage ~15 hours.
All donations with go to Bipolar UK to try and prevent other families experiencing the same grief we are suffering.
£10 helps someone get peer support from the eCommunity
£50 helps someone get peer support via call-back or email
£500 helps 820 people find information via the website
£1000 helps 13 people get peer support on Zoom
£5000 helps 560 people use all their services for a month to keep well”
“Bipolar is a severe, lifelong mental health condition characterised by highs and lows. At their most extreme, the highs can lead to delusional thinking and psychosis, and the lows to suicidal thoughts.
Tragically, someone living with bipolar is 20 times more likely to take their own life than someone without the condition, with at least 1/20 of all people who take their own life in the UK having a diagnosis of bipolar. Which is why the work of Bipolar UK is so important.
Bipolar UK is the only dedicated national charity supporting those affected by bipolar, and they currently reach 389,000 people annually in the UK. They offer peer support to anyone affected by bipolar through in-person and online group meetings, call-back and email support, and a moderated eCommunity.
Times are tough, I can empathise with that. However, anything you can give is truly appreciated. We just want something positive, however small, to emerge from this tragedy. Whether this funds an extra phone call from Bipolar UK, or even giving someone a conversation they otherwise wouldn't have, as a result of seeing these posts, it'll have been worthwhile doing. You never know, it may even save a life.
#MuddyMilesForMegs