Hello, 

I will be running a half marathon at the end of October at Battersea Park, London. As many of you know, this is something I have wanted to do for years but I have always been waiting around for someone to push me to do it. This year, I decided to stop waiting for others to motivate me to do the things that I have always wanted to do. This year started and has continued to challenge me with quite literally changing my life around. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t wanted to give up a few times already but I will not let that stop me from crossing that finish line. 

I am running this half marathon for an incredible local charity who support those who need help with their mental health. The charity’s aim is to transform the lives and futures of adults managing their mental health and help them secure the skills, confidence and training needed to return to the workplace. Having suffered with depression and anxiety, I have not been more passionate about people speaking up about how they feel. I could not be more grateful for my family for pushing me to go and speak with someone and I can quite honestly say I would not be who I am today without that. (Thank you to my wonderful counsellor for allowing me to see myself again) Even if this allows one more person to seek help, I feel like this run would be completely worth it. I am running this for anyone who has suffered or is suffering with any form of mental health, for anyone who has been sexually assaulted or harassed, for anyone who has had or is suffering with some form of addiction or eating disorder, for anyone who feels suicidal or they don’t belong or for anyone who is suffering with an identity crisis and doesn’t know who they are anymore.

Everyone deserves a chance to be heard and for someone to hear them.