On Saturday 22nd August, Zak and Natalie will be undertaking a Europe’s Toughest Mudder in aid of the Mindstep Foundation. This impressive challenge will involve running as many laps as possible over the the course of 12 hours throughout the night! If you want to cheer the team on, they will be in Regent’s Park from 8pm to 8am. Alternatively, you can support the team by sponsoring their Go Fund Me page here.

In today’s society of relentless pressures it has never been more important to share how you’re feeling. My cousin Max lost his battle with clinical depression nearly two years ago and in his honour, the Mindstep Foundation was set up. Since then, the foundation has now gained registered charity status, funding a PHD at the University of Glasgow to further research into mental health and providing support to families who have lost loved ones. 

As part of my personal grieving process, I trained for and entered Europe’s Toughest Mudder last summer, running as many laps of your traditional Mudder course as possible in 12 hours, overnight. I (officially) clocked up 35 miles, completing the last lap as the sun rose with one working leg. This year the event is virtual, with the added mental challenge of an empty track, no fellow competitors and no event atmosphere. So I’ve enlisted a partner instead... It will just be Natalie, myself and a couple of headtorches, aiming to clock up even more miles than before.

If you want to come and cheer/jeer us on, you’ll find us doing laps of Regent’s Park from 8pm through to 8am on Saturday 22nd August. Please support our training efforts and attempt at this ridiculous event by donating below, or simply by following and sharing Mindstep’s social media channels to raise awareness of this all-important cause; their research and advice could help someone who really needs it.

Zak Thomas