A Leigh man is planning to run 164 miles around Snowdonia to raise money for mental health charities, urging everyone to “look out for each other”.
Nicholas Mead, 39, from Leigh, will be competing in the Ultra Trail Snowdonia event, a 104-mile race including 10,000m of elevation.
He will run the organization to raise funds for South East and Central Essex Mind (SECE), which is based in Southend.
SECE Mind is a charity that provides support to all people living with poor mental health conditions across South Essex.
Nicholas, like many others, found it difficult to ask for help when suffering, so he decided to raise money for Mind.
He now wants to push himself out of his comfort zone, challenge his thinking, and encourage others to seek support if they are facing difficulties.
Nicholas said: “I’ve done 10 marathons, but this 100-mile ultramarathon is a whole new ball game.
“This is my way of pushing my personal limits and getting out of my comfort zone.
“Like many people, I used to have a hard time asking for help, so my purpose is to share my journey openly.
“I wanted to take on the challenge of symbolizing the mental health issues that so many of us face, but also highlight the invaluable support available.
“For me, it is important to raise awareness and support for SECE Mind.
“Let’s take care of each other and ourselves.”
Nick plans to attempt the challenge on May 10th and is expected to take more than 30 hours.
He added, “Running 100 miles is like facing a big challenge in life and it can be overwhelming. However, I approach it with a positive mindset and break it down into manageable stages. Outdoors. I’ve always found spending time there to be a humbling experience that truly gives you perspective.
“I’m not worried about being sleep deprived since I’ll likely be out for 30+ hours, but on the contrary, I’m looking forward to replenishing the calories I’ve burned for several weeks.”
To donate, https://www.justgiving.com/page/nick-mead
