I am running the Royal Parks Half Marathon to raise funds and awareness for The Listening Place, who give free, prompt and confidential support to people in London aged over 18 who feel that life is no longer worth living.

I hope to raise, at a minimum, enough to put two visitors through a full cycle of support to reduce their suicidal feelings.

As a psychological wellbeing practitioner in NHS Talking Therapies (Barnet), I have seen the power of TLP - they are incredibly easy to deal with and offer an amazing service.

They provide support in person at one of their London sites (Pimlico, Hammersmith or King’s Cross), offering fortnightly sessions lasting 50 minutes and based on principles of active listening, delivered by highly-trained, empathetic and non-judgmental volunteers.

Visitors see the same volunteer each time so that they can build and sustain a trusting relationship. They work with interpreters, as necessary.

Patients can self-refer and there is no need to have a formal mental health diagnosis.

TLP's sites are non-clinical and welcoming; they feel like warm, safe and supportive spaces. This allows visitors to feel secure speaking about every aspect of their distress and reflecting on their situations.

In the UK, we lose someone to suicide every 75 minutes and it is the leading cause of death in men under the age of 50 and in all adults under 35.