Run4hope

$1,316 donated

Given by 27 generous donors in 7 weeks

Running the marathon to raise money for Key to Life, a charity dedicated to raising awareness around mental health and suicide in NZ.

International

Key to Life charitable Trust (KTL) aims to change the way New Zealanders think, act and feel about mental health and suicide.

Part of the work they have been doing is to work with schools and communities to encourage those suffering to reach out and ask for help and to enlighten those who are confided in, that they can help their friends and loved ones by simply listening without judgement. KTL have challenged our politicians to be accountable for the appalling state of our mental health services and have supported many individuals and their families in their battles with mental illness.

The message is simple, if you are struggling reach out and know that we will listen and hear what you say. Your voice matters. You matter. There is hope.

Lisa Messenger's involvement (page creator)

So it's done... I have finally put my money where my mouth is and signed up for Auckland marathon! Although I have spent the last 6 months training for this event I am still well aware that 50% of the challenge is not physical but mental. So it seems appropriate to use this opportunity to help raise money and awareness for mental health.

During my life I have witnessed the devastating effects that mental ill heath can have on individuals, their family, friends and communities. I have seen many struggle with little or no support from over stretched and under resourced health services both here and in the UK.

The time has come to lose the stigma and create a society where those suffering from mental illness can reach out without fear of shame or judgement and receive timely good quality healthcare.

#TheKeytoLifeisHope #BeThatHope #IAMHOPE

It’s done 31 October 2017

Bare with me, I will stop posting about this bloody marathon very soon!

But before I sign off and close our give a little page I wanted to share a few thoughts....

I knew before I started that my challenge was going to be as much mental as it was physical and it really was! Especially in the last 8 kms when every part of me hurt, my muscles were cramping and I knew that I still had at least 50 minutes of running ahead. But it confirmed something for me, that although crossing the finish line was important it was reaching it that was the challenge. Like with any physical or mental illness it’s the support along your journey that keeps you going.

For me it was the messages of support, the donations to our page, the bag of thoughtful gifts from work colleagues, the volunteers on the side lines supplying us with drinks, the knowledge that around the next corner or over the next hill we might see our family or a friend, the strangers calling our names and cheering us on, my friend at my side talking to me to distract me from the pain and finally, knowing that when we saw that finish line approaching that our family and friends would be there cheering us on to share in our achievement .

So if you know someone who is suffering with a mental illness, be that person who sends a text, offers a drink, calls out their name and encourages them forwards, distract them from their pain, be the one at the finish line, be that hope xx

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