My story on why I am running the London Marathon - https://skeesviews.blogspot.com/2026/04/turning-unexpressed-love-and-grief-into.html

For me, mental illness is intrinsically intertwined with loss. My Mum struggled her whole life with different Mental Health challenges and unfortunately a combination of her struggles and tablets she needed to take, led to her decline and eventual death at the age of 64.

I have also seen friends and other family stuffer from mental illness and with that comes a feeling of losing someone or a part of someone.

Yet, at the heart of all this loss is the attitude I have so often encountered: people saying, "Well, can’t they just get on with it?" If you knew someone, who had just had surgery on their leg, was in a cast, and recovering at home, would you tell them to just get up and start walking?

The Mental Health Foundation is the UKs charity for everyones mental health, who lead the Mental Health Awareness Week. With prevention at the heart of what they do, the Mental Health Foundation aim to find and address the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive.

I am proud to be running the London Marathon for my Mum and everyone who has suffered from Mental Health Illnesses and to be raising money for a great cause, all donations will mean a lot to me.

Thank You

Michael