On Sunday, April 19th, I’ll be running the Manchester Marathon to raise money for Place2Be, a brilliant mental health charity that works with children and young people across the UK.

As most of you will be aware, I have a younger sister, Lydia, who has been experiencing a multitude of struggles and hardships with her mental health for many years. Through the close bond we have shared as sisters, I’ve seen firsthand how isolating, exhausting, and misunderstood mental health problems can be, not just for the person going through it but for those who have to witness such troubles whilst being unable to fix the problem. Sadly, mental health still doesn’t get the attention or support it deserves, especially in younger people. As much as my sister pushes through each day, it’s still a continuous struggle which I believe goes unseen by those who do not have to confront such tribulations. Despite being an older sister, I aspire to enforce the same strength she does throughout her endeavours, which brings me back to why I have chosen to run for Place2Be.

Place2Be provides crucial mental health services in schools, giving children a safe space to talk and be heard. These services support building resilience at an early age so that fewer young people have to face long-term struggles alone. I support and encourage this notion of committing to a program in which we can help children cope from a young age, instead of just providing support after a crisis has already occurred. By doing so, we can begin to work towards a situation in which everyone can be more aware of mental health, and more can be done to support those in need.

If you can support me and donate to this incredible charity, I’d be so grateful.