My Story

Having graduated Newcastle University this summer (July 2022), I wanted to do & acheive something a bit different... something slightly crazy. I have decided upon running 12 marathons across 12 countries in 12 months (starting January 2023). I am doing this in order to travel to new countries whilst also raising money for a very important charity, which I am very proud to say is Mind.

Life at the moment leaves many people, and particularly young people, facing mental health challenges. I would love to raise as much money as possible for Mind as they provide support and help to those that are facing mental health struggles.

Whether it is you, a friend or a relative, we all likely know someone that has struggled with their mental health. Of course, this is both worrying and distressing, BUT what is more worrying is those friends or relatives that we don't even know about. Mind provides support for these people that may not have anyone else to turn to.

Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

The Marathons I currently plan on running are as follows:

Marrakech - 29/01 - 3:37 ✅

Kilimanjaro - 26/02 - 4:26 ✅

Rome - 19/03 - 5:05 ✅

Paris - 02/04 - 3:35 ✅

London - 23/04 - 3:35 ✅

Copenhagen - 14/05 - 3:23 ✅

Edinburgh - 28/05 - 3:28 ✅

Uppsala, Sweden - 19/08 - 3:52 ✅

Sydney - 17/09 - 3:59 ✅

Amsterdam - 15/10 - 3:28 ✅

Porto - 05/11 - 3:37 ✅

Malaga - 10/12 - 3:51 ✅

Any donation large or small is truly appreciate and goes a long way to battling the ongoing mental health crisis seen across the globe. If a donation isn’t possible please share with your friends and family, it really does help!!

Documenting it all @run_louis_run on instagram, give it a follow if interested!

Some facts (via Mind)

How common are mental health problems?

• 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England [1].
• 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (like anxiety and depression) in any given week in England [2].

Suicidal thoughts and self-harm

Suicidal thoughts and self-harm aren’t mental health diagnoses. But they are related to mental health. Over the course of someone’s lifetime [2]:

• 1 in 5 people have suicidal thoughts
• 1 in 14 people self-harm
• 1 in 15 people attempt suicide.

Women are more likely to have suicidal thoughts and make suicide attempts than men [2]. But men are 3 times more likely to take their own life than women [4].