Growing up, some of my favorite memories with my dad were of us running races together. Although he would outrun me at every chance he got, I miss those days more and more as time goes on. In 2017, I lost my dad to suicide. With each passing year, it’s become increasingly important for me to honor his memory by spreading awareness around mental health and mental illnesses.

After running the Chicago Marathon in 2022, this marathon is another opportunity for me to honor him and advocate for a cause so close to my heart. I hope that by sharing my story, I can help end the stigma around mental illness, even if in a small way, by doing something my dad & I loved to do together.

I would do anything to run a marathon with my dad, and I fundraise today in hopes that others get to share more memories with their loved ones than I had. It's time we normalize asking for help and prioritizing our own mental well-being, and I couldn't think of a better way to do that myself than by raising money for something that helps me prioritize my own.

About the Mental Health Foundation

The Mental Health Foundation is the UKs charity for everyone’s mental health.

With prevention at the heart of what they do, the Mental Health Foundation aims to find and address the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive.

This one is for you, Dad. Ready to take it international this time!