I'm Running the London Marathon for Mind! 🏃‍♂️💙

Why Am I Doing This?

On March 13th, 2020, I was working at an amazing company called Starcount. It was more than just a job—the people there felt like family. But, like so many others, our team was hit by redundancies that year, and everything changed.

I moved on to a new role at Genomics England, but something wasn’t right. I struggled to sleep, found myself withdrawing, and became more socially awkward (yes, apparently that was possible). Eventually, I spoke to my doctor, who diagnosed me with Depression and Anxiety and put me on medication.

Later that year, I hit a really low point. I won’t go into details, but it was a tough time, and I convinced myself I was useless. Working from home made it even harder—there was no one next to me to chat with during the day… apart from the dog, who usually falls asleep when I start talking about AWS Security Best Practices.

Thankfully, with the support of my fiancée Paula (yes, we got engaged! 🎉), my doctor, and Mind, I found my way back. That’s why I’m so passionate about raising money for this amazing charity—because I know firsthand how vital their work is.

Moving Forward

Fast forward to now: I’m in a much better place. My doctors adjusted my medication, I used the services of Mind, and my employer at the time had an amazing scheme that helped me enrol in a comedy course with Louise Stevenson—which actually boosted my confidence and helped my anxiety!

🎤 Here's my stand-up graduation night (I do drop the C-word once, sorry! 😆):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4jNIjoH0Jk

These days, I work for Fujitsu (still home-based, but making changes!). I get outside more, I’ve made new friends, and I’ve even learned to talk to my dog about things that interest him—like leaves, sticks, and muddy puddles. Oh, and I’ve gained about three stone since 2020, so running 26.2 miles seems like a great idea, right? 😅

Why Mind?

Mind is an incredible charity that supports people across England and Wales who are struggling with mental health. They work tirelessly to ensure no one has to face it alone, and I want to do my part to help.

💙 If you can donate, please do! Every little bit helps.

🔗 My JustGiving Page: https://lnkd.in/eUaHBh7c

Thank you for reading, and a massive thanks to everyone who has supported me over the years.

#LondonMarathon #MentalHealth #WhatAmIDoing

Now Minds bit:

When you're experiencing a mental health problem, supportive and reliable information can change your life. That's what we do. We empower people to understand their condition and the choices available to them through the following:

-Our Infoline, which offers callers confidential help for the price of a local call.

-Our Legal Line, which provides information on mental health related law to the public, service users, family members/carers, mental health professionals and mental health advocates.

-Our award-winning information, certified by the PIF Tick.

"Mind was such an invaluable source of information. I can't put into words how helpful they were for both of us..."