My Story

I've signed up to run a marathon because it felt like something I had a chance of being able to do, and because I was working on the theory that people are more likely to donate to someone who (at least visually) looks like they don't want to be there. Who doesn't want to see a fat girl run 26 miles? 

Why am I fundraising for the samaritans then? Well because I think genuinely, without a Samaritan, I probably wouldn't be here to try and do this run. It was a Samaritan who picked up the phone to me after i'd managed to walk myself out of Waterloo station, and who chatted to me for over an hour whilst I mostly cried on the steps outside until I was calm enough to get on the bus and go home, rather than what had seemed like the only logical alternative two hours earlier. I feel very strongly that should be an option available to everyone. 

And its annoyingly fitting, because when i'm doing well enough to go running, the running in turn is good for my mental health, but its good to know if it goes badly wrong again someone like the samaritans will be there to catch me, and anyone else who needs it. So i'm fundraising to make sure they can keep helping, and always be there to answer those calls.