In April 2026, I’ll be running the London Marathon for Mind, in memory of Jonny Broadhurst, who worked with us for nearly five years as our property manager. I first employed Jonny when he was just 29 years old, and over time I came to know him as incredibly bright, talented, and full of personality. On his best days, he’d fill the office with energy and laughter.

But behind the scenes, Jonny faced challenges that went back many years. Life had thrown him some difficult moments, and over time I began to see that those moments were taking their toll. In the weeks before his death, I tried to reach out and encourage him to get support, but like so many people, he didn’t want to burden anyone.

In November 2023, at just 34 years old, Jonny took his own life. His loss devastated our office, his friends, and most of all his family. The shock of losing someone so young, with so much ahead of them, will never fully leave us. You never think someone you know is capable of such a thing — until it happens. It’s changed the way I hear certain comments or jokes, and it’s left me with a deep understanding that we must take mental health seriously, every time.

Why This Cause Matters to Me

I’ve had my own darker days — times when I’ve questioned whether it’s all worth it. Talking helps me. Feeling that someone cares, having someone listen without judgement, has always been what pulls me back to my senses.

Not long ago, my four-year-old said something no parent ever wants to hear:

He didn’t understand the meaning of his words — but hearing them was enough to stop me in my tracks. It upset me deeply and reminded me that feelings of sadness or hopelessness can appear at any age, even without full understanding.

It was a powerful moment that reinforced how important it is to create space for people to talk, to be listened to, and to be supported — no matter their age. It’s yet another reason I’m running this marathon, because I know first-hand how important it is to feel heard, and how damaging it is when someone feels completely alone.

Why This Cause Matters for Everyone

Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 in the UK. In 2023 alone, 6,069 people in England and Wales lost their lives to suicide — nearly 75% of them men. Men aged 45–49 face the highest risk, but it can affect anyone, at any stage of life.

What struck me after Jonny’s death was how many people came forward with their own stories — friends, family members, colleagues they’d lost, or times they’d struggled themselves. It was heartbreaking to realise how common these experiences are, yet how rarely we talk about them.

For men in particular, the societal pressure to “be strong” or “just get on with it” can be deadly. Too many suffer in silence because they don’t want to be seen as weak. That has to change.

What Mind Does

Mind is there for anyone experiencing a mental health problem, offering:

Confidential helplines for advice and emotional support.

Local Mind centres with face-to-face help, peer groups, and crisis support.

Campaigning to improve services, protect rights, and break stigma.

Online advice that’s clear, practical, and available 24/7.

Workplace training to help employers support their teams.

Your donation will help Mind keep these services running so that when someone feels they can’t go on, there’s a lifeline waiting. For someone like Jonny, it might have meant the difference between feeling alone and feeling heard — and sometimes, that difference can save a life.

My Goal

I’m aiming to raise £2,500. Every pound you give will help Mind provide life-changing support for those who feel trapped in their own thoughts.

Running a marathon is a challenge — but it’s nothing compared to the daily challenge of living with a mental health problem. I’ll train, I’ll run, and I’ll carry Jonny’s memory every step of the way.

Please support me if you can — donate, share this page, and help make sure that no one has to face their darkest moments alone.