Gosport deputy head runs every day in January for mental health charity

Sian Hosmer from Haselworth Primary School in Gosport has been running once a day to raise money for Young Minds, a children’s mental health charity.

Now she has raised more than £800, as well as more awareness for the development of mental health issues in primary school pupils.

An issue close to her heart, she is determined to help more people understand that mental health problems can affect someone of any age, no matter how young they are.

Mrs Hosmer, who has been running since January, said: ‘This all came about because I have previously done some running and wanted to get back into it, while also raising money for charity.

‘Personal health and wellbeing hasn’t been great for a lot of people during lockdown, so I signed up to run every day in January.

‘I’ve been doing a minimum of a mile a day, and the support has been incredible.’

On some days, Mrs Hosmer would run alone, or with family members.

But on other days, she has been running with pupils from Haselworth, who have done countless laps of the school playground.

A Year 1 pupil even ran two miles one morning, she said.

‘We have seen a massive rise in mental health problems in schools during the pandemic,’ Mrs Hosmer said.

‘At Haselworth we have a counsellor who comes in, and some children with significant mental health problems.

‘People might not understand that it can develop in children this this young – but studies show that mental health issues faced by adults often stem from their childhood.’

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In total, Mrs Hosmer has run 126km, but doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon.

Despite her January challenge being completed she hopes to keep running a few times a week, and is urging others to join her.

She said: ‘I thought that by doing this, I might be able to raise £50 or so.

‘But to have raised more than £800 is incredible – I’m so overwhelmed by people’s generosity.

‘Money is still coming in, so I’m going to keep on running.’

To donate, people can go to justgiving.com/fundraising/Sian-Hosmer3

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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