Bryony’s Fundraiser for NHS Mental Health Support

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page! If you’ve come this far, chances are you know a little of my story and fundraising mission, but fundamentally one of my passions in life is raising awareness for mental health support, especially within sport and for women. I experienced first-hand the impact negativity around body image in sporting environments at a young age can have, and, for me, this trauma emerged as years’ of mental and physical abuse that tormented my late teens/ early-mid 20s. Turning to the NHS for help, I was fortunate enough to have amazing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust for 2.5 years, for FREE, which completely changed my life. I often refer to life after 26 as being ‘Bryony 2.0’ - it gave me freedom, confidence and the ability to live life without restrictions.

Therapy also totally revolutionised the way I view training and sport. Having always been heavily involved in competitive sport as a youngster, CBT helped me view exercise positively, and in a way that meant I no longer used it as a way to continue abusing my body. My mindset towards training is now so positive that I am planning to undertake challenges I never previously thought my obsessional tendencies would allow, which is why I’m so keen to use the opportunity to fundraise for the amazing services that got me here at the same time.

What I’ll be taking on between April-September:

• Paris Marathon
• Isle of White 55km Ultramarathon
• Outlaw70.3
• CrossFit Turf Games intermediate
• Outlaw full-distance triathlon
• Dock2Dock 15km swim

Why so many different things?

I have experienced so much negative feedback on the sports I’ve done over the years, which I know is very common, especially for female athletes. I want to try and show there isn’t one ideal body type we have to have to take part in different sports, what’s more important is showing up, training hard and believing in your own capability - but it has taken me 30 years to get to this level of confidence and belief! Fundamentally, all bodies are amazing, and all bodies can do amazing things.

What does training for the above look like?

The challenge with training for such variety is, of course, trying to be at the top of my game for a number of different things, and it can be anywhere between 12-20 hours of training a week, on top of a full-time work week. I 100% knew what I was signing up for, but the mental intensity can feel a lot, on top of trying to fuel properly, meal prep, avoid getting ill, stretching, mobility, avoiding injury etc!

So why should you sponsor me? Something I feel very passionately about is making life changing mental health support, such as therapy, more accessible to everyone. I waited 18 months to begin therapy, and it was a really tough time, for myself and the people around me. Not everyone can afford private therapy, so if I can help reduce wait times for those really in need of support, that’s a great motive for me to complete my challenges!

I really care about helping others in the situation I was in a few years ago, which felt utterly consuming and hopeless, & the best way to do this is to raise extra money for already underfunded NHS Mental Health services. I am so grateful for all support in helping me complete these aims, and I’ve set the target here as it is double what I raised for last year's half-Ironman challenge - I’d love to smash it out the water!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING & SPONSORING!! Bryony :)