Ruth Hanna
Ruth's fundraiser for APP
Fundraising for APP
Story
In 2020, 5 months after having my baby boy I became seriously ill. I was undiagnosed for a long time despite being seen by various medical professionals. Luckily a close friend in the UK had heard of Postpartum Psychosis and put my husband in touch with APP. They were a lifeline for him and us. We ended up travelling to Glasgow to the Mother and Baby unit where I spent 5 months in recovery. There are no Mother and Baby units where I live nor are there any in Northern Ireland. I want to help raise awareness for this very scary illness and make more care available to new mums.
My aim was to complete a half marathon, 21km…. Our round trip from Girona to Glasgow was over 100 times longer than that. Unfortunately I am injured but I have 2 amazing friends representing me and the charity, Afra who ran 21km at the start of May and Sinead who is about to complete the Edinburgh marathon. Both of them were there in different ways for me while I was ill and know how important this is for me. As soon as I have the all clear, I will be training towards a new challenge.
What we manage to raise via Justgiving for APP, my husband and I plan to match and donate to the Mother and Baby day clinic in Barcelona.
“Postpartum psychosis is an illness caused by the trauma of birth, it is not your fault.”
“There is nothing stronger than a broken woman who has rebuilt herself.”
Here is my story-
(It is distressing)
Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) is a UK charity. We’re here to make sure mums, parents and families are supported through postpartum psychosis – a severe, but treatable, form of mental illness that occurs after having a baby and affects 1400 new mums in the UK each year.
We offer information and peer support, facilitate ground breaking research, raise awareness and campaign for improved services.
Our life changing peer support network helps women and families affected by postpartum psychosis feel understood, supported and less isolated.