Alison Cowan, GP Lead for the Thrive Young Person’s Clinic, and her long-time friend Caroline are joining up to tackle the Endurance Life Sussex Ultra Marathon in a bid to raise funds to support young people’s mental health. As parents of adolescents, this cause is deeply personal to both Alison and Caroline. Their goal is to raise £4,732 to fund a Mind in Mid Herts (MiMH) Outreach Support Worker for a year, providing essential mental health services to young people in St Albans and Harpenden through the Thrive Young Person’s Clinic.

The pair first ran a marathon together 25 years ago in London, and this ultra-marathon marks a new milestone for them both. Reflecting on their motivation, Alison shared:

This will definitely push our boundaries, but we know that young people struggling with their mental health are having to push their boundaries every single day. It’s a challenge we are proud to take on to support such an important cause.

Why the Fundraising is Vital

The MiMH [Mind in Mid Herts] clinic was a great help for us in the YPC [Young Person’s Clinic], offering just the right support for many of our patients”

said Zsuzsanna, a GP working with the Thrive Young Person’s Clinic.

Since its inception in 2019, the Thrive Young Person’s Clinic has provided comprehensive mental health, physical health, and sexual health support to young people. However, the clinic is now facing challenges due to the difficulty in securing funding for the Mind in Mid Herts outreach support worker, creating a gap in the service.

As the GP Lead for the clinic, Alison has witnessed firsthand the invaluable support Mind in Mid Herts workers provide. These Support Workers collaborate with GPs to offer follow-up care, ensuring young people stay on track with their mental health goals. Without this support, GPs now face greater demand for review appointments, reducing the capacity to see new patients and placing additional strain on GPs.

The Impact of the Support Worker Role

In the final six months before the Mind in Mid Herts support worker role ended:

• 94% of appointments were filled (110 out of 117 slots), reflecting increasing demand for this vital service.

Thrive Young Person’s Clinics serve young people aged 11–25, with those referred to MiMH coming from a broad age range:

• 52% were aged 13–15 years, showing high demand from adolescents.
• 36% were aged 16–18 years, highlighting the need for mental health support as young people navigate transitions into adulthood.
• 10% were aged 11–12 years, demonstrating the importance of early intervention.

These statistics underline the value of the service in addressing the diverse mental health needs of young people across different age groups.

This fundraising effort aims not only to restore the role but also to expand its sustainability. Alison emphasised:

If we exceed our target, additional funds will go towards continuing this vital work beyond one year

Alison said.

Support Alison and Caroline’s Journey

Alison and Caroline will take on the challenging Endurance Life Sussex Ultra Marathon together, a 32.53-mile race that will see them covering a gruelling course through coastal and countryside terrain, pushing their physical and mental limits.

They are asking the community to rally behind their efforts:

• Donate today: Visit their JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/page/alisonandcaroline.
• Share their story: Spread the word on social media and encourage others to visit their fundraising page.

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week

This initiative coincides with Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week (3rd–9th February), making it a poignant reminder of the challenges young people face. The theme, “Know Yourself, Grow Yourself,” encourages self-awareness and personal growth—values reflected in Alison and Caroline’s inspiring journey.

We are incredibly inspired by Alison and Caroline’s commitment. Their efforts will shine a light on the mental health struggles young people face and help bring vital support back to our community”

said Sharn Tomlinson, CEO of Mind in Mid Herts.

Notes to Editors

• Event: Alison Cowan and Caroline are running the Endurance Life Sussex Ultra Marathon, a gruelling 32.53-mile race through coastal and countryside terrain.
• Goal: Raise £4,732 to fund a Mind in Mid Herts outreach support worker for one year, providing essential mental health services to young people aged 11–25 in St Albans and Harpenden.
• Significance: This role addresses a critical gap in the Thrive Young Person’s Clinic, which offers vital mental health care for adolescents and young adults. Without this support worker, GPs face increasing pressure to meet the growing demand for follow-up mental health care.
• In 2023, about 1 in 5 children and young people aged 8 to 25 years had a probable mental disorder. This was 20.3% of 8 to 16 year olds, 23.3% of 17 to 19 year olds and 21.7% of 20 to 25 year olds. (NHS, Digital Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2023 – wave 4 follow up to the 2017 survey)
• Call to Action: Support this initiative by donating at https://www.justgiving.com/page/alisonandcaroline. Share their story on social media.
• Timing: This fundraiser aligns with Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week (3rd–9th February), with this year’s theme, “Know Yourself, Grow Yourself,” focusing on self-awareness and personal growth.
• Additional Information: Mind in Mid Herts is a Hertfordshire-based mental health charity committed to improving community wellbeing. For further details, contact Craig Fields, [email protected]