This Saturday (8 March), Chris Hatfield, from Lewisham South-East London, will embark on an epic challenge as he runs 30 half marathons in 30 days from 8 March to 6 April in aid of Mental Health Foundation and aims to raise £6,400 for the charity.
Chris, a mindset and wellbeing coach and founder of free-to-join mental wellbeing run community, Run Your Mind, is committed to getting the conversation going by combining his love of running and talking about mental health by dedicating two-thirds of the half marathons to topics related to mental health, giving fellow runners an opportunity to have a chat about issues affecting them.
Chris said of his motivation for taking on this challenge: “I’ve personally struggled with anxiety, which sparked my journey into understanding and managing my mental health.
“I’ve also seen many people struggle with their wellbeing through my professional work as a coach.
“Learning to manage and take care of my own mental health and talking openly about it has been a powerful tool, and I want to encourage others to do the same.
“By taking on this challenge, I want to shine a light on this issue, encourage more people to talk and make sure fewer people suffer in silence.
“Two thirds of my half marathons will focus on a mental health related topic such as anxiety, self-talk, comparison with others and managing stress. You’re welcome to run with me and have chat about these - whether that's for 1-2km or the whole half!”.
Chris will be taking his challenge across Europe as he takes participates in half marathons in Lisbon, Rome, Malaga, Seville and London.
Alexa Charnley, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Mental Health Foundation, said: “At Mental Health Foundation, we know the importance of movement and connecting with others in maintaining good mental health and preventing poor mental health.”
“Our Best Mental Health Tips, backed by research, outline what you can do to protect your mental health: Our best mental health tips - backed by research | Mental Health Foundation
“It is inspiring to hear that Chris has combined both aspects of physical and mental health as part of his challenge. Our research has shown that almost half (45%) of UK adults feel that their mental health and wellbeing can be improved through physical activity.
“We wish him the best of luck in his challenge and would encourage others to get involved. Together, we can help everyone have better mental health.”
Join Chris in this challenge by participating in one of the conversational half marathons by completing this short form: https://forms.gle/LPkKhjFjjxmaJg6V7