Want to run for Solent Mind next year? Register your interest for Great South Run 2025 or the 2025 Southampton Marathon here...
Living with depression for the past two years and using our services throughout his mental health journey, Sam Clissold is raising money for Solent Mind's local mental health services, running the ABP Southampton Marathon for us for his second year.
This year’s ABP Southampton Marathon takes place on Sunday 6 April. Running for Solent Mind for a second year, Sam’s sharing his marathon experience to hopefully inspire others to sign up for this year’s race and help raise money for our support services across Hampshire.
Sam set out to prove to himself that he could do something difficult that previously he thought was impossible. His mission was to raise crucial funds to allow Solent Mind to continue to support people with their mental health, as well as inspiring others to try something new and take on a challenge.
Having lived with depression for the past two years, Sam found our services at the beginning of his mental health journey, browsing our website, he took comfort in knowing there were other people going through something similar to him and there was help available. He started off by accessing the toolkits and online community, and later engaged with talking therapies, finding this to be an effective method of support for him.
Advocating for Solent Mind, Sam wants to encourage others in similar situations to reach out for support:
"I now encourage anyone suffering with poor mental health to reach out to Solent Mind and not to go through it alone."
When asked why he chose to run in support of us, Sam stressed the importance of services like ours:
"Anyone can be affected by poor mental health and the services that Solent Mind provide are invaluable."
Sam also wanted to raise awareness of the help available and spark conversations around mental wellbeing, saying:
"When I have suffered from poor mental health, having people to talk to has made the world of difference. I would like to help ensure this continues to be available to others when they need it and to get more people talking about their mental health."
Running last year, Sam found the race to be a really positive experience. He remembers the support along the route was 'fantastic' and helped to spur him forward.
The opportunity to see Southampton with fresh eyes wasn't lost on Sam either, he was grateful for the chance to see the best of the city, highlighting his run past St. Mary's stadium as a particularly memorable moment, describing it as 'really special'.
Although running the race left Sam with fond memories, the one that stands out is of course the final few steps of the race across the finish line, after months of training:
"The sense of achievement when you cross the finish line is incredible and is even better when you have supported a charity like Solent Mind"
Based on his experience from last year, Sam shared his top tips for this year's marathon runners:
Sign up to run the marathon!Summarising what he learned, Sam shares his top tips for people considering or those who have already signed up to the marathon.
We're so proud of Sam for achieving his goal last year. We're incredibly grateful to him and all of this year's marathon runners and we're here to cheer you on every step of the way!
Has Sam inspired you to take on a challenge for Solent Mind? The money you raise will help us to provide much-needed mental health and wellbeing support to people all across Hampshire.
Want to run for Solent Mind next year? Register your interest for Great South Run 2025 or the 2025 Southampton Marathon here...