This time last year was the start of possibly the worst time of mine and my family’s life. My daughter, who is now 16, was subject to bullying, isolation and was even physically assaulted at school. Due to this she missed a lot of school whilst we fought to get her the help and support she needed.

It took six long months before any meaningful support was offered. That was six months of unnecessary pain and suffering. At one point, I found myself sitting in A&E with her, wondering if she would ever get back to feeling herself. Schools and support services need more resources, and young people need access to tools that can help them through the most difficult times.

Since Covid Running has been a huge part of my life. I run not for my physical health, but for my mental health. It gives me peace, relieves my stress and helps me reset. That’s why I want to use my love of running to support Young Minds Matter (YMM) and in April 2026, I will be taking on the huge challenge of running the London Landmarks Half Marathon to raise money and awareness of this fabulous charity.

YMM are a Warwickshire based charity providing 1:1 mentoring sessions in schools across Coventry & Warwickshire for children and young people aged 5-18, free of charge.

They support young people through mentoring services, building resilience, self-esteem and confidence. They help to remove barriers to accessing support and help normalise conversations around mental health as part of everyday learning and development.

My daughter is finally in a much better place. She’s calmer, settled and most importantly happy. Shes embraced her last year of school with determination, dedication and is an inspiration. I am incredibly proud of her and her strength. We feel incredibly lucky that she got the support that she needed and we can now look forward. We only wish that support had come sooner. By running for YMM, I hope to help ensure that even one other young person gets the support they need sooner rather than later.

Thank you so much in advance for donating whatever you can, it really will make a massive difference.