Those who know me know I have my own lived experience of mental health challenges, as well as being neurodiverse. I find running is a great way to support my own mental health.

However, before last year I had never even run 5K! I did my first ever 5K thanks to a local running group, the Stowmarket Striders, who had a ‘couch to 5K’ training group.

I first got into jogging when I was at university struggling with my mental health. I never ran far or fast, it was just good to move my body and get out. Then I started running again when I lived in London and found myself struggling with the challenges of motherhood. I was lucky to find the welcoming community of Run4ReneBarnhurst who do a short social run every week. While I never quite managed the 5K distance I experienced the benefits of moving more to improve my mood. Once I moved out of London I found a local running group who have helped me build up my distance and pace to reach my goal of taking part in 5K park runs and to get running regularly.

In September I will be running my first ever race event: the Run Norwich 10K with some of my Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) communication team colleagues.

We are all embracing this year's Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) 2024 theme of 'Movement: Moving more for our mental health’.

Therefore, I am looking for sponsorship for this race to help support their chosen charity: Norwich City's Community Sports Foundation.

Any donations to this charity will go to their cause that is close to my heart and that fits in well with this year's MHAW them: driving inclusion for people with disabilities, boosting mental health and wellbeing, and supporting disadvantaged people in Norfolk to raise their aspirations.

Thank you for reading and any donations will be greatly appreciated.