A running battle
PRINCE Harry’s recent revelations about his grief after the death of his mother, Princess Diana, have spurred on the conversation about mental health.
He has spoken candidly about suppressing his emotions for years after her death, when he was 12, and coping with feelings of aggression, before finally seeking help.
Such is the importance of this issue for the royal family, that Harry, Prince William and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, have spearheaded the new campaign and charity, Heads Together. “We just want to reduce the stigma,” says William.
With that aim, this emotional yet uplifting documentary follows 10 volunteers who are training to run the London Marathon for the charity on Sunday.
Presented by Nick Knowles, this film follows their gruelling and at times emotionally difficult training as they prepare for one of the biggest endurance challenges.
Each volunteer has a different mental health condition, and there are some devastating stories among them. Rhian suffered a double tragedy after her toddler son George died suddenly of pneumonia aged one. Five days later, her husband Paul, consumed with grief, committed suicide.
“I very rarely let myself cry because if you cry you won’t stop,” she says.
Steven is visibly shaking from anxiety when he meets the group. Ever since a road accident when he served in the RAF, he has suffered from post traumatic stress disorder. He says: “Some days I don’t want to get out of bed.” Meanwhile, Shereece had depression when she was bullied at school, before later suffering from post-natal depression. But, ultimately, the focus is on moving forwards, as boot camp trainers Charlie and Chevy, alongside nutritionist Laura, teach them how running can be a coping mechanism. But can they turn 10 ordinary, largely unfit people into marathon runners?