Following in the footsteps of her husband, Sam, who ran the ABP Southampton marathon in our honour, Lily completed the 10-mile challenge in Portsmouth and raised nearly £700.

Signing up for the running challenge

Seeing her husband take on a marathon for Solent Mind and realising what a positive experience it was for him is what inspired Lily to do something similar.

“Sam said that running the marathon and being part of the Solent Mind team of fundraisers was an amazing experience. It was a huge achievement for him, and I could see just how much he got out of it.

“I was told about the Great South Run in October, and I decided to sign up.

“Running had never been something I’d done before, and being a mum to an 18-month-old meant I was unsure I’d have enough time to dedicate to the training. However, with exercise being so important for mental health, I decided to prioritise my own wellbeing and give it a go.”

A rewarding experience

The Great South Run 2025 event day brought with it some terrible weather, but Lily said she still loved taking part.

“I’d never run in weather that bad before! It was tough going, especially when I was running against the wind in the last part of the race. The whole event was amazing though, and crossing that finish line felt incredible.

“And, knowing I was raising money for Solent Mind motivated me to push on to the end – it’s such a great cause.”

Supporting a cause close to her heart

Lily’s husband, Sam, accessed Solent Mind’s services when he was going through a difficult time, and Lily said the support he received is why the couple have both chosen to fundraise for the charity.

“Solent Mind means so much to our family. The support Sam received when he was struggling was incredibly beneficial and knowing that he was getting the help that he needed at the time was really reassuring to me.

“We want to make sure the charity can continue to be there for others, so helping with fundraising is something that’s really important to us.”

Post-partum depression

As well as seeing the impact that poor mental health had on her husband, Lily also experienced post-partum depression after giving birth to her son. Not recognising the symptoms at the time, she now wants to raise awareness so that other mothers feel less isolated and have the confidence to seek help.

“All I’d heard about post-partum depression was the idea of not being able to bond with your child, so because I felt completely in love with my baby, I didn’t recognise the other symptoms I was having.

“I suffered with severe anxiety and low mood for about 6 months. I was scared about my son getting hurt or me hurting him and didn’t feel like I was good enough to be his mum. I felt so alone!

“Now I realise that seeking help would have been the right thing to do, and if I could give any advice to others who might be going through the same, it would be to share how you’re feeling with family and friends.

“Luckily, I have a very supportive husband, who was able to pass on some of the strategies he’d learnt from Solent Mind, to help me, but others might not have access to the same.”

Importance of story sharing

Both Sam and Lily want to share their experiences to help Solent Mind raise awareness and highlight the support available.

“We know how important it is to raise awareness of mental health and how it can affect everyone. We also know what incredible support Solent Mind is offering to those who need it. We want to continue to do as much as we can to help.”

We're honoured that Lily chose to raise money for Solent Mind and big congratulations to her for completing the 10-mile race.

Has Lily’s story inspired you to take on a challenge for Solent Mind? Find out more here: Take on a challenge | Solent Mind.