A MumsAid Marathon

One of our amazing supporters Zoe Wilson is running the London marathon on the 23rd April.

We are super proud of her and her amazing achievements to date.  This is what she had to say when we caught up with her recently.

How your training is going and what parts you find challenging?

Training this time round has been really tough. I’ve found it hard to run as much as I would have liked. Finding time with a toddler and a full time job has been difficult. I would love to have run more, but I’ve been focusing on getting long runs in and making sure I can survive the 26.2 miles, even if it is slower than I would like! I’ve learnt to be patient and less hard on myself whilst training, and try to just enjoy it all. I keep telling myself the the crowd and adrenaline will get me through!

Why you want to support MumsAid? 

I want to support MumsAid, because I think the work they do with new and expectant mothers is really important. I’ve always raised money for causes that are close to my heart, but never for one that has directly affected and supported me. I always thought I understood mental health, but after having my son and experiencing the debilitating health anxiety that followed, I realised that previously I had no idea. MumsAid were able to offer me support almost immediately after contacting them, which I will always be grateful for. I was in an extremely fortunate position through work and family, that I could also access other private support, however this highlighted to me more how important the work of MumsAid is, especially for mum’s that don’t have other options. My experience trying to get help from the NHS or through a health visitor or midwife was awful, and the waiting times would have seen my mental health decline into something I don’t want to imagine. If it wasn’t for charities like MumsAid and the support they offer, then so many new and expectant mother’s would not find the help, guidance and support required to recover and enjoy motherhood.

What your hopes are for the day? 

My main aim is to survive and get around! I’m really trying to not put pressure on myself for a time (although I have a secret goal!) I’m hoping for good weather, a great atmosphere and to raise money for a fantastic cause! Hopefully it will give me the bug to race more.

This is Zoe’s story:

MumsAid are a local charity providing pregnant women and new mums with specialist counselling for emotional or mental health difficulties. In my opinion, both women’s health and mental health are severely underfunded, and maternal mental health is often overlooked or stigmatised (at least in my experience). Charities like MumsAid are an extremely valuable resource in helping new mums going through extremely difficult times, when they are already at their most vulnerable. I was fortunate to access several sources of support, but not all women have the same options. Without the counselling and support that charities like MumsAid provide, and provided me, many mums would not have the tools to find the light in some of their darkest times.