Thanks to everyone for these generous donations!!! 😊😊😊

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. I am really excited to run my first half marathon in memory of my brother Garo who died by suicide in 1997. He was a unique and very special guy who I always want to remember. 

I was really private about it until I started learning about how prevalent suicide is, and in many cases how avoidable it is. Now, I am completely inspired to share that information with as many people as possible. 

I believe that the faster we smash the social taboos and conventions that breed isolation and depression... the sooner we break the stigmas around mental health... the more urgently we make health a priority for our society, 

the better it will be for all of us, 

our brothers, 

our families 

and our futures. 

Did you know that over 1 million people die by suicide every year? In the UK, it is the single biggest killer of men under 35. 

I am raising money for the Samaritans which is a national charity in the UK. They believe that a reduction in suicide is not only possible but that it is an urgent and important priority for our society. 

The Samaritans have a phone line that is totally anonymous that anyone can call any time. There are volunteers on the other end of the phone, night and day. They don't keep records, they don't criticise, they don't judge and they don't advise. 

They listen. 

Luckily, these days there are many organisations working on suicide awareness and prevention; there are special projects for old people, young people, women, people who have just lost their jobs... There are also lobbying and campaigning organisations trying to improve legislation around this issue - this is all great news. The Samaritans charity is on the ground, in the trenches, night and day, rain or shine. It is a really great organisation very much deserving of our support. 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thanks for reading all this :)