Among the tens of thousands of entrants taking part in this weekend’s TCS London Marathon will be a woman walking it with crutches.
Emily Nuttall is fundraising for Grassroots Suicide Prevention – a charity she said has helped her in recent years.
Earlier this year she completed the Brighton Half Marathon using her crutches and she’s now ready to take on the full 26.2 miles in London this Sunday.
Emily said the Grassroots charity is deeply personal to her, as a lived experience advocate.
“I have been working for Grassroots Suicide Prevention for the last two years,” explained Emily.
“It is a charity that means so much to me having survived my own several traumatic suicide attempts which hid the pain and despair of silent addictions and struggles, masked with ‘I’m fine’, whilst fighting to get through another day.
“In that despair and darkness Grassroots Suicide Prevention gave me the light, strength, and hope I so desperately needed to keep living and grow.”
Emily said she is now “nearly three years suicide attempt free because of Grassroots” and she wants to help others in a similar situation.
The money she raises through her challenge will go directly to the charity to support its programmes.
“The greatest gift you can ever give is to change and save a life and offer hope which is one of the most beautiful things in the world,” said Emily.