A world where no young person feels alone with their Mental Health.

Now take a moment and think about that.

Hi, I am Jon and on 3rd November 2023 I turn 60, I am married to Lisa, have 4 wonderful daughters and currently 6 grand kids.

When I grew up we played football in the street, computers games never existed, social media was not even a thing, phones were definitely not mobile, we had never experienced anything like covid, working from home and the isolation it created was just not a problem, and the words mental health were just not mentioned or discussed.

Today, you cannot watch a News programme, open a social media page or read a newspaper without the words Mental Health screaming out from the screen or page.

What really affects me is when I see anything associated with Mental Health in young people. How have we manged to get to a point that a young person feels so alone that the only solution they see is suicide, and being a parent it scares me.

YoungMinds is the UK's leading charity championing the wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. Driven by their experience, YoungMinds creates change so that children and young people can cope with life's adversities, find help when needed and succeed in life.

So having got the permission from Young Minds, I have decided that during my 60th year I am going to run a series of runs.12 in total covering Half Marathons, 10k and 5k distances. With a total of 103 miles and hence #103at60. So why 103 miles? It the total of all my daughters ages added together when I complete my final run, the Great South Run.

I have 2 aims, the first one is to raise money for Young Minds and the second is to raise awareness not only to young people, but also to their parents, that charities such as Young Minds exist, and they can help or offer advice and you don't have to be alone.

The runs I am undertaking are

10/12/23 Christchurch 10k - cancelled due to waterlogged course

07/01/24 Southampton Common 10k - Completed

28/01/24 Longleat 10k - Completed

18/02/24. Winchester 10k - Completed

24/03/24 Eastleigh 10k - Completed

07/04/24 Southampton 1/2 Marathon - Completed

19/05/24 Hackney 1/2 Marathon - Completed

23/06/24 Exbury 10k - Completed

28/08/24. Battersea Park 10k - Completed

08/09/24 New Forest 1/2 Marathon - Completed

15/09/24 Sandown 10k - Completed

13/10/24 Bournemouth 1/2 Marathon

20/10/24. Great South 10 Miles

I am not looking to be sponsored on each run, just a contribution of any size would be appreciated and also help in spreading the word of my challenge to others.

There will be updates of my runs on facebook, and linkedin, under

#103at60.

With an ultimate aim in helping to make this world

A world where no young person feels alone with their Mental Health