This Southsea running brand is combating mental health with a virtual run

Runr, an online running apparel store, has completed its second virtual run with proceeds going to mental health charity Mind.

Runr was set-up in 2016 by University of Portsmouth graduates Craig Winter, Matt Teague and their friend Martin Day.

They initially set up the company to allow runners to wear something that would show off their passion for running.

They sell running clothing as well as wristbands, hats, fridge magnets and also offer children’s clothing.

Miles for Mind saw runners complete a set number of miles throughout May, coinciding with mental health awareness week.

Runners could run from 25 to 200 miles and logged their miles through apps, fitness trackers or just pen and paper and received a medal after completing it.

All the profits from the run went to Mind, taking the total amount raised by Runr to £22,000.

A percentage of the Miles for Mind merchandise also were given to the charity.

The number of runners taking part in 2019’s run was over double that of 2018, with 2000 taking part.

People took part from across the world, with runners from Australia and New Zealand getting involved.

Craig Winter, co-founder of Runr said they launched Miles for Mind because they felt that so many people use running to combat mental health issues and they wanted to do something to raise awareness.

He said: ‘We knew how much running can help people combat mental health, so we thought, how do we create awareness that mental health matters? We thought it was a really good opportunity to put an event on and especially that it is over mental health awareness week.’

They organised a 5K fun run along Southsea seafront on Monday May 26 via their Facebook page, inviting anyone to come along and join to mark the end of mental health awareness month and celebrate those who have reached their mile goals.

Forty-five people of all ages and abilities came along and took part in the fun run.