Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. Your support means the world to me and I am so grateful for your generosity.

I am running the Royal Parks Half Marathon on 8th October 2023 in aid of Mind, a charity that provides advice and support to anyone experiencing mental ill health. My goal is to raise £1,000 to help them to continue their vital work.

Despite the prevalence of mental ill health and the importance of the brain as an organ (just like any other), it remains an area that is Victorian-taboo levels of talked about and quantum-mechanics levels of understood. Most importantly, however, and largely as a result of the former, those that are ill are not getting the treatment that they need because of a) fear of stigma and b) lack of resources and long wait times for treatment. Like other illnesses, a mental illness can arise as a result of environmental factors, genetics, or a mixture of both, and generally it is treatable with the correct treatment.

It is an area that I am passionate about having seen and experienced the effects of mental ill health both personally and in relation to close friends, family, and, sadly, my wonderful chemistry teacher who lost his life to mental illness. I have never run a half marathon (outdoors) before, but I cannot think of a better reason to put on my running shoes and do so.

Your donation will make a real difference in helping Mind to provide essential services for those who need it most in an area that is so poorly resourced. Please consider donating whatever you can - every penny counts! Thank you so much.