Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

On the 24th of May, I will be running the Edinburgh Half Marathon. I am dedicating my run to my best friend Lydia, who was the kindest, funny and caring friend anyone could've asked for. Lydia lost her battle to mental health on November 3rd 2025. I hope to raise money in Lydia's memory and help raise more awareness on PMDD so others can receive professional help sooner.

We have chosen to raise money for The PMDD Project, as for years, Lydia tried to seek help from healthcare professions. Unfortunately, her symptoms and suffering were dismissed time and time again. The PMDD Project is dedicated to supporting individuals with Pre Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). They strive to raise awareness, provide support, and fund research into PMDD, with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of individuals affected by this debilitating condition.

What is PMDD?

PMDD stands for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, a cyclical, hormone-based mood disorder.

Unlike PMS, PMDD causes severe emotional, mental, and physical symptoms, including (but not limited to):

◉ Depression

◉ Anxiety

◉ Extreme fatigue

◉ Irritability

◉ Brain fog

◉ And suicidal ideation.

Despite how debilitating PMDD is, it is not part of the UK medical curriculum, and most healthcare professionals have never been trained to recognise or treat it.

This leads to harmful delays in care, with people often being misdiagnosed and going without the right support for years.

In fact, it takes an average of 12 years to receive an accurate diagnosis.

If you are able to donate, share or contribute in any way, it would really be appreciated.

If you or a loved one is in crisis and/or having suicidal ideation:

◉ Please call NHS 111 or if you feel suicidal, call 999 straight away

◉ Contact CALM : 0800 58 58 58

◉ Contact The Samaritans on 116 123

◉ SHOUT text service : text SHOUT to 85258