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Running the virtual Vitality 10k during Covid-19

Amy, a PhD student who works at the Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King's College London, ran the virtual Vitality 10k to raise money for mental health research

Amy is a PhD student at King’s College London, and works at the Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience. She fundraised for the Maudsley Charity in October 2020 when she ran the ‘virtual’ Vitality 10k.

She took up running to keep active and improve her fitness during the lockdown. Through her work she has seen first-hand the importance of charitable organisations like Maudsley Charity, which fund mental health and other conditions affecting the brain.

She said “As the lockdowns and restrictions currently in place in the UK are likely to have had a damaging effect on children’s and adult’s mental health both in the short and long-term, the services that charities such as the Maudsley Charity provide are more essential than ever.”

Due to Covid-19, I know that many charities have lost large amounts of the sponsorship they usually receive from organized events like runs and walks.”

The run was due to take place in person, but due to Covid-19 the organisers transformed it into a virtual event, inviting runners to sign up to complete it anywhere they were, during October half-term between 24 October to 1 November 2020.

Amy said of the run: “I ran it with my boyfriend around Bristol on a sunny Sunday morning. It’s the furthest I’ve ever ran so I felt pretty proud when I completed it in just under an hour”

She raised over £300 for Maudsley Charity – thank you so much to Amy for her fantastic fundraising efforts!