Hey everyone, thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page! My name is Jess and this is my Mind Fundraising Story.

Back in 2020, the whole world changed. We were locked away and restricted due to the spread of COVID-19. It became a very negative and isolating time for a lot of us, and the isolation took a lot of lives globally. And unfortunately it also took the life of one of my childhood friends Josh Groom.

It was an incredibly difficult time, and it still is to present day, I believe it doesn’t truly get easier as time goes on, it just becomes easier to not show it. For myself especially I struggled because at this time I lived hundreds of miles away from my hometown where Josh resided. And because of Covid restriction I wasn’t able to travel down to send Josh off for his funeral like the majority of his friends and family.

Josh was and will forever be an incredible human being, he loved and helped so many people, my great grandad included. On weekends Josh would volunteer at a local care home where my great grandad lived and was being cared for. And every week him and my friend Mia would give me updates and send me pictures when they spent time with him as I wasn’t able to see him very often, being so far away. He was selfless in every way, and honestly the light of so many people’s lives.

Whilst I couldn’t grieve with the rest of his friends and family, Mind Charity offered a lot of support to us all, and what a better way to give back to them than to fundraise and help fund the amazing work that they do.

This Half Marathon is for you Josh 💛🖤 ~ Forever 17

“Once a Wasp 🐝, Always a Wasp”

Any donations are so greatly appreciated; and hopefully one donation a time we can help provide the resources to prevent another person, their families and their friends having to go through the great loss a lot of us suffer.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.