Firstly it may look very odd that I am fundraising for myself. Let me explain, I am highly inspired to run for SAMH (for the 2nd time in 3 years) in memory of the younger Andrew Young who suffered 3 Bi-polar episodes involving hospitalisation in 1986, 1990 and 1997.

Compared to 1997 all the people in my generation would surely feel that they are considerably changed by life's experiences and their outlook in life in 2024. But as I write I am so glad that in 1997 I actually started to agree that being Bipolar meant I needed to take my medication every day, to take advice from psychiatrists and fully recognise the crystal clear fact that I had a mental health illness which I have to deal with and manage for the rest of my life

So yes I dedicate this page to the Younger Andrew Young as he is gone

Secondly, last week was the first time I had an appointment with a psychiatric consultant for over 18 years and so for me it is divine intervention and God's timing that I am setting up my SAMH JG page this week (don't worry my current mental health is pretty good but the prime reason for our meeting was to discuss the possibility of a change of medication)

Because I spent nearly an hour with the psychiatrist he did ask me to share details of my 3 episodes. As he did so I think he was a little illuminated by a few of my experiences and stark facts of being in the Royal Edinburgh Hospital - A Hospital focussed pretty much only on Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Rehab and housing the Dept of Psychiatry for Edinburgh University during the 1980s and 1990s

Clearly sharing many of my past experiences was for me quite tough and a little harrowing with a psychiatrist that I had only just met for the first time. I have no need to post them or share them with you here. The great positive is that for nearly 30 years now I have generally been able to share any emotional or personal issues that could penetrate my stable health with the right people be it GP, family, close friend or psychiatrist

But meeting Dr Murdie, the psychiatrist as above very recently was a huge help to galvanise me into running for SAMH as it is such an appropriate charity for me to run for

As most of you who know me will know I have been a long distance runner for 21 years now which was partly stimulated by giving up smoking on the 30th December 2002. I ran in the 2005 London Marathon and sensed then being my first marathon it was only going to be for me one in a chain of several marathons I would run. And learnt soon after of the 6 World Marathon Majors

Briefly (as I am having to educate virtually everyone) since 2007 The following 6 marathons have become the Abbott World Marathon Majors series. Here is the order in which I have done them to this point -

2005 London

2007 New York

2009 Berlin

2011 Boston

2023 Chicago

Sunday 3rd March 2024 - on the starting line for Tokyo 2024

You may wonder why there was a gap between 2011 and 2023 - many reasons - Lack of time to train as I coached as well as taught swimming many unsocial hours from 2011 - 2020 and I had 3 knee ops during that time. Finally the UK 2 Covid pandemics were another hindrance

Regardless we are where we are in life and despite the constant battle I have with injuries with your support and my resilience and perseverance I will stride through the finish line (and not care at all about my finishing time)

May I naturally encourage all those who read this epistle to donate if you can. Even a small donation is much appreciated and I take great pride in how many people donate

For me whether you can or cannot donate I hope you would consider the value of taking 5-10 minutes to share this page because awareness of Mental Health issues has come a long way since 1986 but it seems to me for sure that here in the UK alone we need to know to gain the correct information in a world in which social media has become the backbone of how to educate yourself in it

Though obvious to say but accurate word of mouth works very well too

For those who pray and believe in prayer I would be very appreciative and

grateful for any prayers supporting my run and this fundraising campaign.

Yours the Present Andrew Young