London Marathon 2022 for Mind UK

If you've made it to this page then you probably already know I'm running the 2022 London Marathon on behalf of the charity Mind! What you probably don't know yet is why I'm taking the challenge on and why you should most definitely donate to such an incredible organisation... Like me, I'll try and keep the explanation short and sweet...

Anyone who knows me has probably noticed that I've been running quite regularly for just over a year now - for some strange reason, I absolutely love it! The obvious benefit is that it means I get to eat obscene amounts of chocolate without feeling guilty, but the main reason I run isn't physical at all. For me, and for many others, the part of me that really profits the most is my mind. The release of getting outside by myself and focussing only on the rhythm of my feet slapping the pavement, is one of the ways I now give myself a break and keep myself mentally steady... however, whilst running is something that certainly works for me, unfortunately there are many others out there who are really struggling with their mental health, often battling internally but invisible to those closest.

Certainly no one had any clue how my step brother was feeling when he took his own life in 2003. Despite only knowing Bryn properly for a few years, the impact that event had on my life was huge, even steering me towards a degree in Psychology in search of answers. Throughout my life I've encountered others who have tragically experienced the same type of loss and the most common comment is about the surprise of it - that everything happened so suddenly and those who felt there was no other way, never hinted at how bad they really felt inside.

So very simply, that is why I am running for Mind. To help raise funds for a charity that provides support for anyone experiencing mental health problems and to raise awareness of Mind and its' activities in general, so that anyone who feels like they are getting to a point where they are running out of options knows that they are not alone and can get help.

Please contribute whatever you can and help me support this incredible cause while I destroy my knees.

Thank you,

Tom