Mental Health Champion Update

Image shows the official Run and Talk t shirt worn by our Mental Heath Champions

Welcome to the first monthly Mental Health Champion update. A friendly reminder to check in with your own wellbeing and let you know about upcoming events.  

As Mental Health Champions our role is to be a point of contact for whoever may need it. We will listen to and support you, and signpost to any relevant resources. You can chat to us on your regular club run, join a mental health run, or email us via welfare. Look out for us in our red t-shirts raising awareness of the role.  

Our Run & Talk Mental Health runs are facilitated to support the action of running with others without any pressure, offering a safe space to run and talk, or run and not talk, either are fine, understood and accepted. The overall aim is to improve mental health through running.

Upcoming Events 

Predominantly our mental health events will include running, but we wanted to offer a Walk & Talk for anyone who might not be running because of injury, the hot weather or who just fancies a leisurely, low-impact pace. Details of our events will also be on the Facebook event page.  

Walk & Talk 

Thursday 13^th August 6.30pm  

Meeting at The Cowherds, The Common, Southampton, SO15 7NN  

Parking located at Cemetery Road or The Cowherds (enter your registration in the pub) Optional drink afterwards (or just join us post-walk from 7.30pm). 

All welcome, including four-legged friends at this one

Run & Talk 

Monday 17^th August 7.00pm 

Meeting and parking at Bishopstoke New Cemetery Car Park, Bishopstoke, SO50 6DW (first right as you turn onto Sewall Drive) 

Join the regular Monday club run for a Run & Talk - all welcome 

 Wise Women’s Words 

Our club is full of wise and wonderful women. For clarity, you’re one of them - from our club runners to the committee, we all have value and can learn from each other. Each month we’ll share a members thoughts to the questions below - you never know if these are the words someone needs to hear today. 

This month we hear from the lovely Jo Cartwright

Reasons why I run? Being new to running having only joined SRS in January for the beginners course, the main reason for joining was for my physical health (trying to build more muscle) and to get faster. I only started running in January 2025 when my beautiful friend, Lynda invited me to a local parkrun. We then attended 10k’s together and completed a half marathon with no idea on running techniques or even a proper training plan. During the beginners course I have made some life-long friends, which we now seem to be signing up to any 10k we can find, but it has to have an awesome medal! I never really thought running could help my mental wellbeing, but just being out with lovey ladies has boosted my self-esteem. 

One way I support my wellbeing? I love yoga or body balance classes as it involves meditation, which really helps me relax and forget any worries.

What mental health means to me? Being able to cope with any worries I have or having someone to share those with. Just having someone to listen really helps me. 

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Remember, there is support available, please reach out if you need it. We hope you can join us on one of our events soon! 

Your Mental Health Champions, 

Gin Tidbridge, Clare World, Jo Culpin, Tracey Middleton, Rebecca Storer, Sarah Beasley, Georgia Hollis, Jo Cartwright and Welfare Officer Karen Curtain. 

*Email welfare.runningsisters@gmail.com  

*Further details on Run & Talks and a list of places you can go for urgent mental health support Mental Health | SolentRunningSisters 

Written by Tracey Middleton