A Hallam University student has taken part in the Sheffield Half Marathon and set up a fundraiser for the charity Mind in order to spark conversation over men’s mental health after his own previous experiences.
Ollie Creighton, 20, grew up with poor mental health and had experienced excessive bullying throughout secondary school and sixth form which led him to seek professional help through multiple therapy sessions.
Mr Creighton said: “I wanted to give back to medical professionals.”
The half marathon took place last Sunday where Mr Creighton ran to raise money for his chosen charity, Mind. This was his first half marathon and has taken up running as a new hobby this year.
According to the NHS, 12.5% of men suffer from mental health disorders and are three times more likely than women to die by suicide in England. Mind is a charity that gives advice and support to anyone experiencing a mental health problem, campaigning to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
Through setting up his fundraiser, Mr Creighton had said: “I think people are quite hesitant to open up to friends and family.
“There’s a guilty feeling around it and a lack of trust.”
Mr Creighton managed to finish the race in 1:40:13 seconds with minimal running training. He had a previous sporting background where he achieved successes at high levels in swimming and took up other sports such as football and rugby.
He hopes that his achievements in fundraising for the marathon will inspire teenage boys and other young men to speak out on their problems and do similar acts.
On his gofundme page Mr Creighton said: “My friends and my family are the reasons why I found the light at the end of my tunnel and are heavily responsible for the person I’ve developed into today.”
When thinking about his past experiences with mental health issues, he said that he has moulded himself into a different person that his younger self would have benefitted from and is proud of his achievements since.
Mr Creighton has successfully raised £400 which has exceeded his original £250 and has mentioned planning to do more charity-based activities for mental health in the future.
