Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

The Challenge:

To run 12 half marathons in 2025, one every month. That’s 13.1 miles per run, 157.2 miles plus all the training miles, so I expect to run a total of around 930 miles in 2025.

About me and why this is tough:

• 47 Years young

• Never been into fitness until the last couple of years, in fact, hated even the thought of it.

• Carrying some excess timber

• Life long spinal condition (Spread to my neck in 2024)

I unfortunately know a number of close friends who have suffered a mental health crisis, including myself. One person close to me took their own life in 2018, the pain that caused for so many was something I never want to see or be part of again, leaving behind a loving wife and 5-year-old son who thought the absolute world to him.

I myself have suffered struggles, with last year having its biggest impact on me, various things occurred, managing a Pituitary Brain tumour, living life in pain and my numerous different medications all taking its toll, that along with a tough working environment ultimately all came to a head.

The thing that surprised me the most, was how bad things had to get for me to get the help and support I needed, I can now see why for so many people, the help needed comes all too late. I visited the doctor a number of times but had to really push and almost beg for the help I needed before the right support was put in place.

Unfortunately, mental health affects so many, people that aren’t aware of it, and like myself people that hide it well, both of which are very dangerous.

Most importantly, the charity:

The charity is a fantastic group called the Lantern Trust; the charity helps anyone that struggle with events in life.

*Please note, I have removed names, but these wonderful people know who they are, it’s just to retain anonymity.

Two amazing people supported me, the first being the ARRS Mental Health Nurse, they helped me with my medication and supported me with changing from one set of meds to another. This person works for the NHS as a joint venture with Access to Wellbeing Weymouth & Portland Hub, this is run by the Lantern Trust to give better, quicker access and support, this service really works!

Not only did the ARRS help to change the medication that I was on, but also to ensure that there was the correct balance to be able to get the best from them, not the easiest and we check in on a regular basis to ensure that I’m still receiving the best support.

The second is the wellbeing coordinator, I’ve been working with the wellbeing coordinator now for just over a year. We meet on a weekly basis and this wonderful person has shown so much guidance, support and helped me discover the tools I need to cope with my health, work and life. These tools enable me to fully embrace and enjoy my family time and life, something that was lost in being overworked, stressed and in a lot of daily pain.

The work was hard, but without the support of these two amazing people, I really wouldn’t be enjoying life as I do now, they have become so much more than people that help me.

I respect what they do so much, I can’t and don’t know how I can thank them enough!

For further information on what these amazing people and team do, please click below or copy and paste in the following web address.

https://lanterntrust.org.uk/

Much Love

Phil