On 3rd November 2024, I will be completing the New York Marathon.

As some many of you know, I’ve completed a marathon before. However, this was nearly 10 years ago, when I was actually fit and enjoyed exercise. Neither of these things are the case today, which is why I’m considering this a challenge!

I always said I wanted to run the New York marathon for my 40th birthday, although in 2021, Covid put paid to that plan.

Now, after a very difficult couple of years, I have started to think about it again. When I realised that the New York Marathon this year fell on the same weekend as what will have been my son Henry’s 18th Birthday, I knew I had to do it in his memory.

Those who know me are already aware, my eldest son Henry died two years ago- something that nobody was ever expecting. A funny, outgoing, loving, kind and clever young man whose future looked promising and exciting (to outsiders). Unfortunately Henry didn’t feel the same way, and on 5th June 2022, he decided to end his life. Henry never gave the impression that anything was wrong; never gave us any reason to think that he was feeling this way; and most heartbreakingly, for all who knew him, never spoke to anyone about these feelings.

For this reason, I would like to use the marathon an opportunity to raise money and awareness for three important charities. Three very worthwhile organisations that can help support young people’s mental health; help end the stigma of suicide and mental health; help young people realise that they do not have to face these feelings on their own and help push for better mental health support for young people.

The charities I have chosen are Young Minds, Papyrus and Joe’s Buddy Line. I will split all sponsorship equally between these 3 charities (almost). Here’s a bit of info about each of them…

Young Minds. A mental health charity who gives advice and support to young people and their families. Building a movement for societal change, enabling young people to get the right help and support for anyone who needs it, before it reaches a crisis point.
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

Papyrus. A charity whose primary aim is to prevent young people taking their own lives, by removing the stigma surrounding suicide and ensuring young people don’t have to face these feelings alone. They aim to equip young people and their friends/family with the skills to recognise and respond to emotional distress.
https://www.papyrus-uk.org/

Joe’s Buddy Line. A charity that aims to provide emotional and mental health support for those within Primary School to University, by offering workshops run by certified mental health professionals and a range of other initiatives.
https://joesbuddyline.org/

Hopefully by my fundraising, we can help raise awareness of these charities, enable them to continue their worthwhile work and help prevent anything this devastating happening to any other child or family.

If you’re able to, any donation, big or small will be hugely appreciated!

OK, so my reasons for doing this are crystal clear!
I have the motivation for running the race, now comes the motivation for the training (hmmm). Time to update my training plan (again), get some new trainers, research some new running accessories and….. oh, and actually do some running!!

Will keep you updated on my journey

Thank you in advance xxx