Run For Wellbeing campaign

The campaign aims to raise awareness by asking people to share personal stories on social media of how exercise has helped them to improve their mental health, using the #RunForWellbeing hashtag.

The #RunForWellbeing initiative recognises the growing evidence suggesting that exercise can not only reduce symptoms of depression but can also lead to a variety of other mental health and lifestyle benefits including better sleep, increased energy levels, improved mood, and increased motivation and confidence to engage in leisure activities.

A national charity partner for the Saucony Cambridge Half Marathon 2020, Charlie Waller Trust has 50 charity places to the sold-out event, taking place in March. Runners will have the opportunity to get up and active while raising money for a valuable cause and will be supported through engaging and informative resources containing expert advice on training and looking after their own, and others’, mental wellbeing.

Clare Stafford, our CEO, comments:

Every week, 1 in 6 adults experiences a common mental health problem, such as anxiety or depression, and 1 in 5 adults has considered taking their own life at some point. 75% of mental health problems are established by age 24 and the sooner they are addressed the better. Our mission at the Charlie Waller Trust is to ensure that young people get the support they need and are able to take action to look after their mental wellbeing.

The link between exercise and mental health is something that our trainers frequently talk about in their mental wellbeing sessions. Whatever the choice of exercise - running, swimming, dancing, football, yoga – physical activity is increasingly recognised to have a beneficial effect in relation to mental health and we want to spread this message as widely as possible. We know that if you’re depressed, it can be really difficult to get active. Through our #RunForWellbeing initiative we are encouraging the nation to lace up their trainers and experience the benefits of exercise on their mental health.

Members of Charlie Waller Trust’s team of Saucony Cambridge Half Marathon runners will be champions of the #RunForWellbeing initiative, supporting the charity’s awareness-raising by documenting their training journeys and by raising vital funds.