I am running the London Marathon this year on the 27th April. I was not planning on raising money for charity as I was fortunate to secure a ballot place.

However, this is potentially a once in a lifetime opportunity and I figured why not raise a little something for a very special cause! I dont have a target, but every little helps.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to take a slight tangent. I have struggled with mental health on and off throughout my life and recently went through a particularly difficult time.

For anyone that reads this, I want you to know you are not alone, not matter how scared you are, or how dark your thoughts may be, so many people go through something similar.

There are so many amazing people waiting to help, all you have to do is reach out. I know its daunting, but its never as bad as you think it's going to be, I have always come away afterwards wondering why I didnt reach out earlier!

If you broke your arm at home, you wouldn't just sit there and wait for the doctor to knock on your door, or wait for your arm to heal itself, or blame others for not fixing it for you, so why do we treat mental health differently!? The help is there, you just have to take that step when you are ready, the onus is on you!

I recently read something which for me perfectly describes mental health;

Do you think the world can see you how you see you? Your flaws, your insecurities, your imperfections?

Imagine a tinted or reflective window.

You cannot see anything inside from outside.

But when you are inside, because of the view you have, you can see everything and you assume everyone can see what you do in reverse.

This is the same with mental health, even just generally in life, we look outward and know what we feel, how we are and assume its obvious to those outside.

It's not obvious as we cannot see inside when we are outside. You have to let people in, people you trust, if you want them to understand what you are feeling. Only then can they help.

If you suspect someone is struggling, simply ask them how they are, is everything ok, how is your day? If they are ready to let you in, they will open the window, you cannot open that window for them, no matter how hard you bang.

Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.