2023 Ironman triathlete, Ash Wilkes, is taking on the challenging Snowdonia Marathon in aid of local mental health charity, Advance Brighter Futures (ABF).
Ash Wilkes at the 2023 Ironman Contest.
Since the loss of his parents, Ash has aimed to support charities and causes that his parents would have wanted and has completed a charity event each year in their memory, to help keep their legacy alive. Ash is open to sharing his story about his own personal struggles with mental health and why Advance Brighter Futures is a cause close to his heart, too.
Zoe, Business Development Officer at ABF says, “We’ve been helping people improve their mental health for over 30 years, empowering them to lead more fulfilled lives and build resilience for a brighter future. When it comes to mental health, we know there is no magic wand, but we’re a passionate and driven organisation who listen to, care about, and believe in the people we support.”
Ash says, “This is a cause that also means a massive amount to me. Having overcome PTSD, Depression and Anxiety, I really believe everyone should have the opportunity to talk. Therapy, in the form of friends, family and professionals, saved my life from my own hands. I was extremely fortunate to have friends and family to open up to initially (when I finally did) and to guide me towards getting professional help. I was even more fortunate to be in a position where I could pay for it…so many aren’t. ABF, in my eyes - and I would say with confidence, in the eyes of many - is a lifesaving charity who deserve all the help they can get to provide their next level services to people who need them the most."
Ash Wilkes.
Ash has recently completed the vigorous Ironman Italy contest, but even with virtually no recovery time, nothing is stopping him taking on the challenging Snowdonia Marathon, all for a great cause.
“Our health service is overwhelmed and charities like this need funding. I’ll do the graft and take on Snowdonia Marathon - but if you can spare a pound today, your community would be grateful! Let’s spread the word and look after each other.”
Ash Wilkes at the 2023 Ironman Contest.
Zoe says, “As a small, local charity, we’re grateful for any support from our community, so it means the world to us when people choose to fundraise on behalf of ABF. Along with the awareness Ash is raising around mental health, the monies raised from sponsors will go directly to supporting people in Wrexham. We really can’t thank Ash enough for bravely sharing his story and taking on this challenge all in aid of mental health awareness and Advance Brighter Futures and we wish him all the luck for the race! Fundraisers like this one help us to continue to provide our services and achieve our mission. Above all, we want to ensure that no person experiencing mental health problems ever feels like they’re on their own.”
Established in 1992, ABF are a small, Wrexham-based mental health and wellbeing charity who provide specialist mental health services to hundreds of people every year who are experiencing mental health difficulties, from low level interventions to supporting those experiencing severe and enduring mental illness. Their services include one-to-one talking therapy, parent support groups, one-to-one coaching, wellbeing group activities and mental health training, to name just a few.
Snowdonia Marathon has been voted Best British Marathon twice. The demanding and spectacular route which encircles Yr Wyddfa – the highest peak in Wales – has served to makes this an iconic event in the running calendar. The race takes place on Saturday October 28th at 10:30 a.m. If you’d like to support Ash and Advance Brighter Futures, you can visit Ash’s fundraising page here to sponsor him for the Snowdonia Marathon: https://tinyurl.com/3rpaa686
For more information on Advance Brighter Futures, you can visit their website here: www.advancebrighterfutures.co.uk
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