Christa Dwaah · #TeamMind · Road to the 2027 TCS London Marathon

Christa runs for Mind

26.2 miles, because everyone deserves access to mental health support. I'm running the 2027 London Marathon for Mind, dedicated to my parents, whose strength and resilience have inspired me my whole life.

  • Running 26.2 miles for better mental health
  • Sharing my journey to inspire conversation
  • Raising funds to support Mind
Sponsor me Sponsor a half-mile

Donations are handled by Enthuse, the official platform for Mind and the TCS London Marathon. Every penny goes straight to the charity, and I never handle the money.

Running for mind TCS London Marathon 20
27

Struggling right now? You don't have to wait for a marathon.

If life is in danger, call 999.

Christa smiling in the sunshine at a race finish, holding up her medal, wearing a race vest and hydration pack with the number 3573 on her bib
26.2 miles for Mind
26.2miles, one Saturday in April

My story

Why I'm running for Mind

I've chosen to run for Mind because I believe everyone deserves access to mental health support. Although conversations around mental health have become more open, there is still a stigma that prevents many people from reaching out for help. I want to play a small part in changing that and raising awareness of the incredible work Mind does.

Mental health has touched my life in many ways. Growing up, I experienced my own personal challenges, which taught me the importance of looking after my mental well-being and reminded me that asking for support is a sign of strength, not weakness.

“Asking for support is a sign of strength, not weakness.”

I've also seen firsthand how mental health can affect an entire family. Watching a loved one face ongoing challenges, while seeing the unwavering love, resilience and support of another, has shaped my understanding of compassion and the importance of being there for one another.

This run is dedicated to my parents, whose strength, love and resilience have inspired me throughout my life. By taking on this challenge, I hope to raise both funds and awareness for Mind so that more people can access the support they need and know that they never have to face their struggles alone.

Christa Dwaah

Back my 26.2

Why Mind

No one should have to face a mental health problem alone

Mind's promise is a simple one: nobody experiencing a mental health problem should go without support or respect. They provide advice and support, campaign to improve services, and work to break down the stigma that stops people asking for help. Here's the scale of what they're up against.

  • 1 in 4

    people in England experience a mental health problem in any given year.

  • 1 in 6

    report a common mental health problem, such as anxiety or depression, in any given week.

  • 26.2 mi

    is the distance. That is 42.2 kilometres of London, on one Saturday in April 2027.

  • £3,000

    is my target. Every donation through Enthuse goes straight to Mind, plus 25% more with Gift Aid.

Prevalence figures as published by Mind. Read more at mind.org.uk.

Where your money goes

What a donation actually does

Pick a mile, pick an amount. Anything gets me closer to £3,000 for Mind, and Gift Aid quietly adds 25% on top.

  • £10

    A mile of my training

    Roughly a mile of my training, and a contribution towards the information and advice Mind puts in front of people looking for answers.

    Give £10

  • Most meaningful

    £25

    Sponsor a half-mile

    Claim half a mile of the course and dedicate it to someone whose name I will carry for that stretch. 53 half-miles, first come first served.

    Pick your half-mile

  • £50

    Support on the line

    Two half-miles, or simply a bigger push towards the total, going straight into Mind's support services and campaigning work.

    Give £50

  • £100

    A thirtieth of the way there

    Puts a real dent in the £3,000 and funds Mind's campaigning for better services and less stigma.

    Give £100

Tick the Gift Aid box on Enthuse. If you're a UK taxpayer, Mind can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give, at no cost to you. A £20 donation becomes £25, which is exactly what the first donation to this page did.

Sponsor a half-mile

26.2 miles. 53 half-miles. Claim one.

Sponsor half a mile for £25 and dedicate it to whoever you like: someone you've lost, someone still fighting, someone who got you through. I'll be carrying every name on this grid with me, and I'll know exactly whose half-mile I'm on when it starts to hurt.

0 of 53 half-miles sponsored

£0 raised this way

    Tap any available half-mile to claim it: donate, then type the name straight into the form that appears.

    Half-mile of 26.2

    Claim half-mile

    1. Donate £25

      This opens my Enthuse page in a new tab. Come back here afterwards and this window will still be open.

      Donate £25 via Enthuse
    2. Tell me who it's for

      Then I'll put their name on this half-mile, and think of them on that stretch of the course.

    Any amount is welcome. The £25 is simply what makes a half-mile add up. Tick Gift Aid and Mind gets 25% more at no cost to you. Dedications are added by hand, so give me a day or two.

    Training log

    The unglamorous bit

    Marathons aren't won on race day, they're won on wet Tuesday evenings. Updated as I go.

    • 0 miTotal miles logged
    • 0 miLongest run so far
    • 0Training sessions
    • 0Pairs of trainers retired

    Follow along

    Road to 2027

    The plan, mile by month

    From base miles to the finish on The Mall.

    1. 2026 · Done

      Place confirmed with #TeamMind

      Charity place secured with Mind for the 2027 TCS London Marathon, the Saturday event. Enthuse page live, fundraising officially open, and the first donation already in.

    2. Autumn 2026

      Building the base

      Consistent easy miles, three to four runs a week, strength work twice a week. No heroics.

    3. Winter 2026

      Long runs get long

      Weekend long runs stretch past the half marathon mark. Dark mornings, head torch, questionable decisions.

    4. Jan–Feb 2027

      Race-pace blocks

      Tempo sessions, a half marathon as a dress rehearsal, and learning what my stomach will tolerate at mile 18.

    5. March 2027

      Peak weeks

      The 20-milers. The ones that make the marathon feel possible, and the fundraising push goes into top gear.

    6. Saturday, April 2027

      Race day 🏁

      26.2 miles across London in a Mind vest, with your names on it, for my parents. 2027 is the first London Marathon held over two days and I'm in the Saturday event. See you at the finish.

    The journey

    Miles, medals and mud

    The cheer squad

    Everyone pushing me up the hill

    Donate and your name lands here, or stay anonymous, like the very first person to back this did.

      Be the first name on the wall.

      Employers & businesses

      Match-giving, a team sponsorship, or a logo on the vest: corporate support moves the total fastest. Payroll giving and matched funding schemes are the two easiest wins if your company runs them.

      Talk sponsorship

      Questions

      The things people ask

      Get in touch

      Say hello, or offer a hill

      Sponsorship, cheering plans, training company, or just a message on a bad week. All welcome.

      Send me a message

      £20 raised of £3,000

      Donate