Leila and David are running the Great North Run on 7 September to raise money for The Mental Health Foundation! It’s our first event as a father and daughter team and we have been training for the last few months (neither of us want to be the one left behind!). We are near to the end of our training and raring to go!

Like so many families in the UK, ours has been seriously affected by challenges with mental health and by trauma. The Mental Health Foundation is active across the UK supporting families and communities, and we’d love to be able to make a small difference by helping them raise money to continue their great work.

The GNR is Leila’s first half marathon, and she turns 21 just a few days before the 13.1 mile race! And it’s almost 21 years since Leila (at just five weeks old) was a spectator for the 2004 Chicago marathon to see her dad’s first and only attempt at the full 26.2 miles.

So 7 September will be a special and meaningful day for both of us, and for our family who are travelling to the north east to watch us cross the finish line together.

Thank you very much for your support.