My Story

On Sunday, 27th April I’ll be running the London Marathon in memory of my little brother Jamie, who we sadly lost to suicide when he was just 16. Not only is the London Marathon something that Jamie always aspired to complete, but on 11^th April (two weeks before marathon day) it will be the 10-year anniversary of his unexpected passing – making the event feel very fitting in a somewhat strange way.

Jamie was a creative, musical, happy-go-lucky guy who inspired all that knew him. An absolute legend of a little brother who’d always have something funny to say or something stupid to do and would never fail to put a smile on your face. Growing up alongside him and my sister Christina was a true blessing, and I will be forever grateful for the 16 years we got to spend together.

Of course, you wonder every single day what he’d be up to now and the path he’d have followed, but in reality, all you can do is treasure the memories, learn from everything he taught you and ensure you keep him front and centre as you create new positive memories on his behalf.

Life has been an unimaginable rollercoaster over the last ten years, and through many ups and downs I’ve learned a lot. Not only about myself, but about how to treat people around me, to check in on your loved ones, to always remember the sun will come up again tomorrow, and most importantly, to live with a ‘what would Jamie do?’ mindset. I’d be lying if I said it’s been an easy ride, but so far, so good.

So here I am, running the bloody Marathon, because that’s exactly what Jamie would do.

Every year, thousands of lives are lost to suicide. It’s the leading cause of death among men under 50, and one in four people in the UK will struggle with their mental health at some point in their lives. Yet mental health services remain stretched, and stigma still holds people back from asking for the help they need. Jamie was never able to speak up about his struggles to anyone, he kept his thoughts to himself, and his friends and family were none the wiser until it was too late. I firmly believe that he'd still be here, had things have been different and he’d have felt confident enough to reach out.

I’m privileged to be running on behalf of Mind, a charity that works tirelessly to provide support, advice, and services to those experiencing mental health challenges. Too often, mental health struggles are hidden. People suffer alone, feeling ashamed or unable to reach out. Mind works to change that, helping individuals to feel seen, heard, and supported. They fight to ensure that no one has to suffer in silence.

I hope that with the marathon, not only can I do my little brother proud and tick another item off his bucket list, but through the money I raise I can help others who are struggling with their mental health, whilst raising some much-needed awareness around a topic which still isn’t spoken about enough.

Any donations or words of support you’re able to spare, however big or small, will go a long way to supporting those who need it most. Thank you so much in advance. Here’s to Jamie.