On (or near) Sunday 25th July, I'm running 10K for PAPYRUS in memory of my friend Tom. Let’s unpack that in reverse order.

I met Tom through our university’s Doctor Who Society. He was kind, he was excitable (especially over Doctor Who!), and he was genuinely one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. By the time we graduated, he’d secured a training contract at a big law firm and was looking ahead to his future career. In April 2017, Tom sent me a Google Maps screenshot plotting out his summer holiday plans. In June 2017, aged 23, he took his own life.

Sadly, Tom had battled depression for a very long time. He was a big supporter of PAPYRUS, the national charity for prevention of young suicide - the biggest killer of under 35s in the UK. PAPYRUS provides confidential support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide, and anyone worried about a young person through their helpline, HOPELINEUK. Every £5 raised can help pay for a life-saving contact to HOPELINEUK. PAPYRUS also deliver training and equip local councils, healthcare professionals and school staff with the skills they need to pick up the signs before it’s too late.

I’ve always wanted to do something for PAPYRUS and for Tom, but never knew what. Then, in late 2019, something very strange happened: I got into running. I signed up to run the Asics London 10K in 2020, but COVID-19 had other plans. Doing a 10K race with loads of other people was a daunting prospect back even in the before times - I was hoping to run in London in 2021, but with continued uncertainty over whether the event will go ahead and whether I'll be able to cope with it, I've made the difficult decision to withdraw from the event and and focus on completing the 10K here in Corby to the best of my ability. (The ability is a little shaky too, but that's on me!)

I will still be running on or near Sunday 25th July. Nobody mention the weather.

Your donations really are life-saving - thank you.