As many of you know, I lost my closest and dearest friend to suicide in the summer of 2022. Losing a friend as close as Dan was the biggest shock in my life. Whenever you think of suicide, you think “it’ll never happen to anyone I know”; believe me I used to think that way. It was a very confusing and depressing time in my life after I lost Dan. Dan always kept to himself and was very like me in that way, however we knew we could always talk to one another in our own times of need. For whatever reason, Dan didn’t think he could talk to anyone in the end and sadly took his own life. The pain of losing your best friend never truly goes, but running has been an excellent pain relief to get me through this difficult period in my life. Before Dan left I made a promise that I would help him reach a sub 20 minute 5k. Although I will never achieve that promise, I hope doing this more than matches that.

Society needs to take men’s mental health much more seriously as it is a problem that is swept under the carpet in this country and around the world. Men should not have to feel less “manly” for seeking help or advice. It would mean a lot for any support in raising some money in memory of Dan and to support an organisation doing such fantastic work.