Inspired by a patient I recently worked with in psychiatric intensive care, I’m attempting this year’s Manchester Half marathon whilst raising funds for the Manchester Refugee Support Network.

The furthest I’ve ever ran is 10K, and this was over 4 years ago. It’s a challenge that I would never have signed up to for thinking it’d be unattainable, if not for this recent encounter at work which has help to shift my outlook.

Why I’m running:

I recently met a person who had faced complex trauma and tragic loss from early childhood onwards. These life-threatening experiences are simply unimaginable for most of us. They are enough to completely shatter a young person’s belief in themself and their faith in humanity. But for him they didn’t, at least not permanently. Because I saw that they hadn’t shattered his kindness or his empathy, his curiosity or his willingness to learn, or his strength and determination to do good for himself and for others. In fact, in the midst of it all, he somehow got up and he ran. He told me that for all of his life, running has been his therapy.

Not just that, he learnt to speak 5 languages, taught kids to play chess, volunteered to help other vulnerable people, and now he’s running several marathons every week! At just 27 his contribution to the world is greater than what most people with comfortable security will give in their lifetime.

This encounter has really made me think about my own contributions and my fragile resilience. I only have to experience a minor stress or inconvenience and I take to my bed where I can sulk for hours on end, being no use to nobody. So, instead, I’ve decided to use this inspiration to stop sulking, to get active instead, and to raise funds that will go towards helping other refugees rebuild their lives, in the hope that they will also find the same strength to overcome hardship, and to eventually pursue their passions.