Short Film: The Elephant Runner
Donation protected
Brief Summary: Funding & Sponsorship required for short inspirational film 'The Elephant Runner' - a journey from Bipolar Depression, Anxiety and Obesity to running the London Marathon. Can you help? Free advertising for your company, services, etc. in film credits and on all associated social media platforms & websites! See end of story for how you might be able to help. Thank you.
The Full Story: My name is Rachel, I'm a 43 year old mum, and I've been variously diagnosed over the years with Asperger's, ADD, Anxiety, Depression and Bipolar. Most people who meet me, or even know me quite well, have no idea - like a lot of people with mental health issues, I hide things pretty well.
A few years ago, I started raising awareness and funds for the mental health charity MIND and their amazing ELEFRIENDS forum, an anonymous place where people can talk honestly about their highs and lows, their anxieties and worries.
I started to leave the safety of the house and began to run, just locally at first, head down, earplugs in. But to raise more funds I needed to run organised races - with crowds. I bought and customised a costume - Ellie the Elefriends Elephant. I ran 5k with Ellie, then 10k, then half a marathon, and finally a full marathon. We were doing great.
Then I got ill again. My psych doctors tried new med combinations and successfully stabilised my moods, and my Elefriends were online, supporting me through it. But the side effects took their toll. I gained nearly 3 stone in weight and pretty much slept and ate my way through the following year.
I'm off my meds again now, not quite back to full health but ready to start recovering. I've started running again, slowly and only when confidence allows, but I'm really determined to get well again. This time I want to record my journey to help others.
Over the next 9 months, I'll be collaborating with a local film maker to put together an inspirational video recording my progress (the ups and downs, I'm sure there will be both) as I put my running shoes back on and, I hope, regain my health and fitness. My personal goal is to run the London Marathon in April 2017. MIND have offered me a charity place to do so. It won't be fast but it will be a huge acheivement for me and Ellie Elephant.
The aim of the eventual short film is to raise awareness of the struggles people with depression, anxiety or weight issues often have opening the front door and facing the world. I'm currently classed as 'obese' and it's tough to run in public knowing people will judge you. I'm hoping the film will show a physical transformation as I train as well. I'm prepared to face all the potential challenges and demons if it will help just one other person say, "Maybe I could do that too".
Why a professionally made film and not just video selfies? I want this film to be seen far and wide on social media, local news, anywhere. I want MIND to be able to distribute the video to inspire other people to run for them and help raise more funds.
How will the GoFundMe funds be used? The first (approximately) £1000 will go towards hiring a film maker, initially for storyboarding, then for several days of filming over the next nine months during training runs, races, etc., and finally for editing. I'm hoping I can find a local film student that will charge less, but this is currently the minimum I'm being advised the project will cost.
Any funds raised beyond film costs will be added to my current fundraising efforts for MIND. I need to raise at least £2000 to be able to run for them in the London Marathon, to acheive the ultimate goal and (I hope) the perfect inspirational ending to the film. If we fall short, I'll continue to find other ways to fundraise. Anything over the target will also go directly to MIND to enable them to carry on their amazing work.
My deepest thanks and appreciation go to anyone able to contribute towards making this film, inspiring others and giving people hope for recovery, raising awareness of the challenges of depression and anxiety, and raising money for the amazing people at MIND and ELEFRIENDS. Thank you.
Potential Sponsors: Anyone who works in or runs a business, shop, etc. that's sport related, whether it's running kit, physio, nutrition, life coaching, personal training, anyone who would like to be involved and get their name and contact details out to a huge number of running groups, social media groups and websites - please give me a shout and get involved! Thank you.
CONTACT: [email redacted]o
The Full Story: My name is Rachel, I'm a 43 year old mum, and I've been variously diagnosed over the years with Asperger's, ADD, Anxiety, Depression and Bipolar. Most people who meet me, or even know me quite well, have no idea - like a lot of people with mental health issues, I hide things pretty well.
A few years ago, I started raising awareness and funds for the mental health charity MIND and their amazing ELEFRIENDS forum, an anonymous place where people can talk honestly about their highs and lows, their anxieties and worries.
I started to leave the safety of the house and began to run, just locally at first, head down, earplugs in. But to raise more funds I needed to run organised races - with crowds. I bought and customised a costume - Ellie the Elefriends Elephant. I ran 5k with Ellie, then 10k, then half a marathon, and finally a full marathon. We were doing great.
Then I got ill again. My psych doctors tried new med combinations and successfully stabilised my moods, and my Elefriends were online, supporting me through it. But the side effects took their toll. I gained nearly 3 stone in weight and pretty much slept and ate my way through the following year.
I'm off my meds again now, not quite back to full health but ready to start recovering. I've started running again, slowly and only when confidence allows, but I'm really determined to get well again. This time I want to record my journey to help others.
Over the next 9 months, I'll be collaborating with a local film maker to put together an inspirational video recording my progress (the ups and downs, I'm sure there will be both) as I put my running shoes back on and, I hope, regain my health and fitness. My personal goal is to run the London Marathon in April 2017. MIND have offered me a charity place to do so. It won't be fast but it will be a huge acheivement for me and Ellie Elephant.
The aim of the eventual short film is to raise awareness of the struggles people with depression, anxiety or weight issues often have opening the front door and facing the world. I'm currently classed as 'obese' and it's tough to run in public knowing people will judge you. I'm hoping the film will show a physical transformation as I train as well. I'm prepared to face all the potential challenges and demons if it will help just one other person say, "Maybe I could do that too".
Why a professionally made film and not just video selfies? I want this film to be seen far and wide on social media, local news, anywhere. I want MIND to be able to distribute the video to inspire other people to run for them and help raise more funds.
How will the GoFundMe funds be used? The first (approximately) £1000 will go towards hiring a film maker, initially for storyboarding, then for several days of filming over the next nine months during training runs, races, etc., and finally for editing. I'm hoping I can find a local film student that will charge less, but this is currently the minimum I'm being advised the project will cost.
Any funds raised beyond film costs will be added to my current fundraising efforts for MIND. I need to raise at least £2000 to be able to run for them in the London Marathon, to acheive the ultimate goal and (I hope) the perfect inspirational ending to the film. If we fall short, I'll continue to find other ways to fundraise. Anything over the target will also go directly to MIND to enable them to carry on their amazing work.
My deepest thanks and appreciation go to anyone able to contribute towards making this film, inspiring others and giving people hope for recovery, raising awareness of the challenges of depression and anxiety, and raising money for the amazing people at MIND and ELEFRIENDS. Thank you.
Potential Sponsors: Anyone who works in or runs a business, shop, etc. that's sport related, whether it's running kit, physio, nutrition, life coaching, personal training, anyone who would like to be involved and get their name and contact details out to a huge number of running groups, social media groups and websites - please give me a shout and get involved! Thank you.
CONTACT: [email redacted]o
Organizer
Rachel Turner
Organizer
