Lee, who accessed TLP’s support in 2022, is taking on the Royal Parks Half on 13 October in aid of our work, as part of our fantastic race team of 25.
We’re excited to share Lee’s story in his own words, in which he shares his experience of accessing our support and the value of non-judgemental listening, and his motivations for running the RPHM for us.
“I’m honoured to be running The Royal Parks Half Marathon to raise money for The Listening Place.
The Listening Place describe themselves as providing support for those who feel life is no longer worth living. And I will be eternally thankful that when I found myself in that position, I found them.
Being suicidal is scary but it also scares people, and that includes counsellors and medical professionals, and it is a conversation that they still shy away from. And even if they don’t, the NHS is so overstretched and under-resourced that the reality is a long waiting list and a phone number for a crisis team. The amazing volunteers at The Listening Place encourage those conversations, and being able to open up and talk without judgement or feeling that you’re scaring the person you’re talking to was, for me, life-saving. And TLP is easily accessed – I had my first sessions within days of making contact.
So I am running to raise money, but also to raise awareness of the work this amazing charity does, and to do my little bit to thank the amazing staff and volunteers, and to help others access their services.
But most of all I’m running to hopefully to give those people currently being supported by The Listening place some hope.
It is a real cliché but it does pass, things change, circumstances improve, life does get better, and to me, having someone listen without judgement was a key part in that.”
If you want to support Lee’s fundraiser for the Royal Parks Half Marathon, follow this link to the TLP Fundraising Page.
Best of luck to them all for the race on 13 October!
