Ben Coole

I'm fundraising for Rethink Mental Illness!

On 19 April 2026, I’ll be taking on the Manchester Marathon to raise money for Rethink Mental Illness — a charity that helps people affected by mental illness through advice, support groups, and campaigning for better services.

Mental health is something that’s become very personal to me this year. Towards the end of 2024, I struggled with my mental health. With the help of my wife, Sophie, I learnt a lot about my own personal mental health and how to manage my symptoms.

I started going to therapy in early 2025, which has really helped. Having someone external to my life to talk things through made such a difference. I also learnt how to challenge my anxious thoughts.

When I stopped playing dodgeball last year after an injury, I lost a way to stay connected socially. That lack of connection played a bigger part in how I felt than I’d realised.

For a while, I told myself my experience “wasn’t that bad” — that others had it worse, so mine didn’t really count. But I’ve learned that every mental health struggle is valid. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s worth talking about.

On my birthday, I decided I wanted a challenge — something positive to focus on — and a marathon felt like the perfect goal. I’m very goal-driven, and I wanted to prove to myself that I can do anything if I really try.

So now I’m running for Rethink Mental Illness, to help them continue their work improving the lives of those affected by mental illness. Every donation helps fund vital services and support networks for people who need them.

You can also follow my training on Instagram, @coolelifts, to see all my runs and workouts along the way!