On 26th February 2016, my best friend Chris took his own life.

Chris was the kind of person who made you feel seen, valued and inspired without even trying but behind his smile, he carried battles I never truly saw. Losing him was like having the ground ripped from under me and the truth is, I’ve spent the last decade carrying him with me in everything I do.

From that day to the day I stand on the start line of the London Marathon 2026 will be 3,717 days. That’s 3,717 mornings waking up without him here. 3,717 days where the only thing I’ve truly felt compelled to do is keep his spirit alive by talking about him, to talk about mental health and to make sure others know they’re not alone.

2026 marks 10 years without Chris and on 26th April 2026, exactly two months to the day after that anniversary, I will run the London Marathon in his memory, not just as a runner but as a man determined to turn pain into purpose. Chris was something special and always come back to this video in what a talent he was.

I’m running for Mind, a charity that stands beside people in their darkest moments, just as I wish Chris had felt someone could stand beside him. They are there for anyone who is struggling with their mental health or supporting someone who is. Their work gives people the tools, the support and the hope they need to keep going and that’s the difference between making it through another day or becoming another devastating statistic.

For 10 years, I’ve been fundraising, running, speaking and sharing Chris’s story not because it’s easy but because it matters, because I’ve seen first-hand how loneliness and mental health struggles can silently destroy lives. Every conversation, every donation, every mile has the power to stop another family from feeling the same loss.

My goal is to raise to help them keep their services open, their phone lines answered and their support groups running for the people who need them most.

Whether you can give £5 or £50, every penny is a step towards hope for someone else, and if you’re a business, there are sponsorship opportunities to stand with me in this mission, not just for visibility but to show your community that you care.

On 26th April 2026, I will run every mile for Chris.

For the last decade, I’ve been running towards one thing, a future where more people feel able to speak, to be heard and to keep going.

Let’s make this 10 year mark not just a remembrance but a rallying point.

Never Quit... Never Fail... Never Scared...