I have wanted to run the London Marathon for a while now and I thought that one of the best ways to do it would be to run for a charity, to raise some much needed funds and awareness. Lockdown has affected a lot of people, and impacted their mental health. Mental health is much more of an open subject nowadays and people are more willing and open to discuss any issues they are having. A lot of people care about their physical health but maybe don’t take as much care for their mental health. 

1 in 4 people in the UK have mental health problems and most of them don’t get the help they need. For example, I am going to university later this year. In one of my classes of 40 students there could be 10 people suffering from some sort of mental health problem.

A bit about MIND:

We change minds across England and Wales by making mental health an everyday priority. By standing up to the injustices – in healthcare, in work, in law – which make life harder for those of us with mental health problems.

We support minds – offering help whenever you might need it through our information, advice and local services.

And we connect minds. Bringing together an unstoppable network of individuals and communities – people who care about mental health to make a difference.

Join us in the fight for mental health. We won’t stop until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets both support and respect.

For further information, please visit the MIND website. https://www.mind.org.uk

I am fully aware and prepared that this is not an easy challenge to undertake. I’m not a natural runner but in commitment to this event, I’ve lost 3.5 stone, worked hard to get into better shape through running ‘Couch to 5km’ at the start of the year, started to follow the London Marathon training plan, eating a far healthier diet and I have entered a number of other long distance races. I am committed to this challenge and know I will smash it!

I appreciate that in the current cost of living crisis we are all in, that money is tight for everybody. So I thoroughly appreciate any donation you can make, no matter how big or small, your donations will be put to great use by MIND.

See you at the finish line,

Luca