hello ‼️‼️ I'm raising money for the charity Battle Scars ! My name is Salem and that woman in the picture is my beautiful hypewoman and mascot, my mum <3 I'm not very good at being serious about this so forgive me if any of this sounds insincere 🙂

When I was younger, getting through the day felt like a monumental task. Waking up, getting out of bed, and going to school seemed impossible. I struggled with feeling like I wasn’t good enough, constantly feeling out of place, and the more I tried to ignore it, the louder those feelings grew. Eventually, I started self-harming as a way to escape that emotional pain, even though I knew the alternative wasn’t healthy either. The important thing, though, was that it was *different*—and in my mind, that was the relief I was looking for.

When my parents discovered what I was going through, they became my guiding light. They helped me in ways I couldn’t even fully comprehend at the time (and still haven’t fully expressed my gratitude—maybe I should someday). Since then, I’ve faced a lot with my mental health, but they’ve always been there, supporting me through it all. Even when they can’t be physically present, a text message, a word of encouragement, or a small gesture from them always reminds me I’m not alone.

What I never knew, until recently, was that my mum had been working with the Battle Scars charity—reaching out to professionals who knew exactly how to support me, even when I didn’t realize it. This charity has been a quiet force in my life, helping me turn things around and discover a renewed sense of purpose. Battle Scars has taught me that life doesn’t have to be perfect all the time to be meaningful. Just because you might feel lost or without purpose doesn’t mean that’s the way it will always be.

Now, onto something a little lighter—because let’s be honest, I’m not a fan of diving too deep into heavy topics! 😆 That’s why I’m raising funds for Battle Scars. Any amount, big or small, will go a long way to support this incredible organization. And as anyone who knows me can tell you, I’m *definitely* not a seasoned runner—so this challenge is *huge* for me. But I need your support, now more than ever!

Thank you for helping me give back to the charity that’s helped me so much. Let’s do this together! 🙌