Story
Our ‘Mental Health On-Track’ 24-hour fundraising event:
- Around the track, around the clock, fundraising to save lives
- Aiming to run 96km over 24 hours
- Encouraging healthy conversations about mental health
- Promoting the ‘smile4helena’ campaign for suicide prevention in schools
Yes we are doing all this, but why?
We continue to face a mental health crisis for young people in the UK.
Did you know that 1 in 10 children under 18 report having low mental wellbeing? And in England alone, 1 in 5 children under 18 now live with a mental health condition—a sharp rise from 1 in 9 in 2017.
This worrying increase in poor mental health is tragically reflected in the number of young people at the risk of suicide. Suicide remains the leading cause of death among people aged 35 and under in the UK.
In 2015, my friend Helena was lost to suicide after receiving feedback on her exam results and future subject options— a tragic and most unexpected event, but one which we believe could have been prevented. We want to ensure that the best practice that was issued following her loss is utilised as widely as possible, but this time on a national basis, for the benefit of our future generation of young people.
Her story perhaps reflects a much wider issue: the pressures of SATs, GCSEs, A-Levels, and the emotional toll of exams are significant factors driving record numbers of young people to seek mental health support from the NHS.
A recent study found that 63% of 15–18-year-olds struggled to cope during exams and while awaiting results, and 13% had suicidal thoughts. This just seems unacceptable.
Over the last decade, I’ve run a marathon, completed an Olympic triathlon (even though I couldn't ride a bike at first!), and taken on a 35-mile ultramarathon—raising over £8,000 for suicide prevention thanks to the support of amazing friends, family, colleagues, and campaigners. But these numbers show we still have so much more to do.
So now, we take on our biggest challenge yet: a 24-hour ultramarathon, for two powerful reasons:
1. To support Papyrus, a charity close to our hearts
Papyrus runs HOPELINE247, a lifeline for young people in crisis. But due to limited funding, this vital service is at risk. Every penny raised will help keep this life-saving support running 24 hours a day.
2. To promote the smile4helena campaign
smile4helena is an association looking to ensure that the best practice that was issued following the loss of my friend Helena, is promoted as widely as possible in schools across England, for the purpose of suicide prevention. The mission starts with a simple request to the Government: to 'require that schools notify parents/carers if a pupil is distressed by results feedback'. This is a petition designed to ensure that Parents/Carers are always notified, if a young person is (or has been) distressed whilst receiving any feedback on their academic results or future subject options or choices. Mandating this into safeguarding policies in schools across England could save lives. We believe it could have saved Helena.
If you can spare just one minute, please sign our petition and help us to make this request for change a reality: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/727657
We are requesting this change because we recognise that young people today are under immense pressure—from academic expectations and decisions about their futures, to the constant influence of social media and the digital world. At the same time, we understand that teaching staff face increasing challenges, having to manage multiple priorities on limited resources, all while being expected to uphold the highest standards of education. We believe this proposed change could offer vital support for students during times of stress and provide teachers with a clear, structured process to follow—helping them to safeguard and support pupils accordingly.
Helena will always be remembered for her radiant smile, her kindness, and her selflessness. I’ll carry her spirit with me through every kilometre I run.
#Smile4Helena always x
If you’d like to be part of this journey — whether it’s 4km or 96km - we welcome everyone to join in.
You can walk, jog, or run with us. Do as little or as much as you want to, for as long as you want to - and feel free to have a chat with us whilst you’re doing it! Register interest on the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/share/14EJZY1cc83/?mibextid=wwXIfr
We want everyone to feel that their mental health is (pardon the deliberate pun) ‘on-track’ and encourage open discussions along the way about mental health.
Because no one should feel alone.
And it’s always okay not to be okay.
PAPYRUS is the national charity for the Prevention of Young Suicide.
Suicide is the biggest killer of young people under the age of 35 in the UK, every year over 1800 young people take their own lives. PAPYRUS provides confidential support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide, and anyone worried about a young person through their helpline, HOPELINE247.
Every £15 raised can contribute towards a life-saving contact to HOPELINE247. Your donations really are changing lives, thank you.