Here, Jonny shares his journey to 21K, and the benefits of running for his physical and mental health

Hello! I’m Jonny, and I’ve worked at West Kent Mind since October 2024. When searching for a new role, I knew I wanted to work for a socially impactful organisation – and West Kent Mind has been the perfect fit! Having experienced anxiety and depression myself, I’ve received support from both national and local Mind’s in the past. The opportunity to play a part in that support has been incredibly rewarding.

Shortly after joining, I learned that we had charity places available for the Brighton Half Marathon. At first, I didn’t think it was something I could take on. I had never been a “runner” before, and 21km felt completely out of reach! But I also knew how important exercise is for both physical and mental wellbeing, and I’d always struggled to build a consistent fitness routine. The motivation to raise money for such a meaningful cause, combined with the challenge of a set goal, pushed me to take the leap and sign up.

And it worked! Training for the half marathon helped me establish a regular exercise habit. I began noticing improvements in my fitness, which encouraged me to keep going. During my training, I also discovered Parkrun, a free, weekly 5K run held in parks across the country. I wouldn’t have come across it if not for my marathon journey, and it’s now become a great way to keep running even after race day.

When the big day arrived, I was nervous, but the experience was incredible! The atmosphere was electric, with cheering crowds and even steel drum bands along the route. Seeing so many people come together to support a variety of great causes was inspiring. By the end, my legs were wobbly, but the sense of accomplishment was unbeatable! I have so many great memories and plenty of photos from the official event photographers to remember it by.

I was also thrilled to raise over £750 for West Kent Mind, far exceeding my expectations. Every day, I get to see the impact of that support West Kent Mind provides not only counselling but also wellbeing initiatives like Creative Minds, offering people new ways to focus on their mental health and wellbeing.

Running the Brighton Half Marathon was a win-win: I improved my own physical and mental wellbeing while supporting West Kent Mind’s incredible work. If you’re considering taking on a challenge, I can’t recommend it highly enough!