Marathon fundraising challenge for mental health charity

TWO Holt creative professionals are in training for their first ever marathon, in a bid to raise money to support essential mental health services.

Nathan Baranowski and Ben Veal, who live in Holt, and their colleague Jo Wren, will be running the virtual London Marathon on Sunday 3rd October to fundraise for the Charlie Waller Trust, one of the UK’s leading mental health charities that provides education, training and support to young people, teachers and parents. 

The charity has experienced significant demand for its services during the course of the pandemic – and the trio is calling on local people and businesses to support their challenge to help the charity do even more.

The trio of creative professionals have all spent the past year supporting the charity professionally during the course of the national lockdowns with the launch and development of a new website and content strategy, helping the charity to reach a growing audience via digital-first channels. 

Nathan who is the managing director of Digital Wonderlab, based in Bradford-on-Avon, said, “The Charlie Waller Trust is a leading light in positive mental health support for young people, and is at the forefront of conversations around depression, anxiety and mental health. 

“The charity has big ambitions to positively reach and impact even more young people and their families as we begin to emerge from the pandemic, and fundraising has a big role to play in its ongoing journey. 

“I’m looking forward to taking on a big personal challenge this year – running a marathon which is something I’ve longed to do for a long time – while helping to raise both money and awareness for the charity’s work.”

Ben, founder of Second Mountain Comms, based in Bath, adds, “Mental health support, education and training has never been more vital, and as we begin to transition and move towards ‘new normal’ life after our worlds have been flipped upside down, charities like the Charlie Waller Trust will need great support to be able to keep delivering their essential services to help those sorely in need. 

“I’ve always wanted to tackle a marathon, but self-doubt has prevented me, until now. The events of the past 12 months have proved that we are all stronger and more resilient than we may have given ourselves credit for before; we shouldn’t put off our goals and ambitions.” 

Jo Wren, head of marketing at Digital Wonderlab, said, “We’ve had the privilege of working closely alongside the Charlie Waller Trust over the last year – and have seen firsthand the difference the charity has made, championing mental wellbeing through digital channels. 

“The unexpected Covid-19 ‘lockdown’ restrictions suddenly made the charity’s mental health support work more valuable and sought after than ever before – and the need for more positive conversations around mental health difficulties will drive the three of us towards the finish line of our marathon challenge.”  

This is the first time that any of the trio will have ever run a marathon, considered to be a ‘bucket list’ item for all three. 

Due to the pandemic, this year’s London Marathon – which usually takes place in front of thousands of spectators in April, will now happen virtually in October, with runners asked to select their own route and log the distance and time taken to complete the route themselves.

To follow the trio’s training progress or to make a donation, please visit: www.justgiving.com/team/charliewaller-digitalwonderlab-secondmountaincomms