Faye Turnbull-Stoker

I'm running the Great North Run 2025 for Rethink Mental Illness

I'm taking part in the Great North Run this year to raise vital funds for Rethink Mental Illness.  In recent years, my family has lost three much loved family members due to suffering mental illness. 

Most recently, I lost my cousin Rupert, who was such a huge part of my life growing up.  He took his own life in August last year and has left our family completely devestated.  I also lost my beautiful cousin Johan to suicide in August 2022.  It's difficult to describe the pain from losing someone you love to suicide, and both Rupert and Johan were such big characters in our family - they could never be forgotten!   Suicide is the biggest killer of people under the age of 35 and the biggest killer of men under the age of 50 in the UK. 

I sadly lost my dad in 2020 after suffering for most of his life with chronic illness that was brought on by mental health issues.  There has been so many cuts to mental health services, and in the not so distant future it looks like it is going to be even harder for those who are struggling to gain access to the help they so desperately need. The prospect of this for those who are suffering so badly must be terrifying. This is why we need to do all we can for the charities who are working so hard to help those who are in desperate need right now. 

I ran the Great North Run in 2023 for the same charity and it is even more important to me now with another loss in my family, my time in 2023 was 2.5 hours and I'm challenging myself this year to sub 2 hours.. which really will be a challenge for me!

Please donate, if you can!

Thanks so much! xx