I started Run For Your Life with a simple goal in mind; to create a group that helps people struggling with suicidal thoughts to come together, using the power of exercise and to draw strength from others. Our second goal is to raise £1 million to aid the numerous charities to invest money for follow-ups to ensure people aren't ever left without help.
This is not counseling. It's not therapy in traditional form, but it is a way to get better.
We all know the term "Run for your life", you've all heard it.
It's about running away from something; danger, a monster or generally something that can harm you.
We're about running towards something, not away from it.
More and more people in today's world are taking their own life and a frightening number of people are thinking about it, right now.
At the same time, the amount of help out there is decreasing - just look at the Samaritans, an amazing charity that are having to close down because of resources.
Every little helps and even if we help just one person, it will have been worth it.
I speak from experience. I've fucked up. I've made terrible mistakes and poor life choices but I realized that there's a way forward; but it's not easy.
Exercise became an avenue for my recovery and finding help amongst others gave me more strength than I thought possible. That's what we're here for.
This isn't park run (although I think Parkrun are amazing!)
This isn't about personal bests and it's not about medals. It's about healing.
It's about coming together with other people who are struggling with similar mental challenges and using exercise as a platform to open up and tackle them.
There's nothing more rewarding that tackling these together as a group and you don't need a medal to celebrate that.
I really believe that I've started something special here.
The response has been overwhelming with people reaching out from across the country, from councils, from charities and even personal colleagues from sports federations and clubs across the country.
I've been lucky enough to work in sports my whole career and I'm lucky enough to have an amazing network I can reach out to - and already I've had football and rugby clubs, clothes brands, sports federations and broadcasters all give me their support - and whilst I haven't asked anything of them yet, I know they're willing and keen to help. As one person put it "I can easily just send you 50 white hoodies if you'd like and even if 1 helps give someone support, I'll drive over and give you more myself".
One thing I noticed is that asking for help - or admitting you need help - is not only the hardest step but it's one where you need others around you. Even those that you wronged.
And all too often, you make that first step, you ask for help, you may talk to people, you may be prescribed medication, but there's very rarely a follow up. Resources are just not there for people to call you and check in and just ask how your recovery is going or if you need to talk or any help. It just doesn't exist. It's always one way - you asking.
But what if there was a group of people who had the resources to call you, WhatsApp you, and check in during your recover to make sure you're ok.
That's our second mission.
I'm under no illusion how hard that is but every little makes a difference, and if we save just one life, it will have been worth it.
And if someone says that a phone call to them helped them, it will have been worth it.
Come and join us and help, because we need it.