Please be aware that this article references death by suicide.
Ruth Wilson, Vice-Principal of John Snow College, has just passed her target of raising £40,000 for charity after a series of challenges and fundraising events.
Ruth has been raising money for mental health charity Mind and wanted to reach the fundraising milestone by her 40th birthday in May next year. Ruth, supported by her team of friends, has now raised more than £56,000 in donations and gift aid contributions.
Raising money for Mind is a cause close to her heart, doing so in memory of her cousin Ged who she lost to suicide. At the centre of her efforts is the motto ‘hope through action’, with the money raised going towards Mind’s services so, in Ruth’s words, ‘someone will get their tomorrow’.
Ruth meeting Mary Kelly Foy, Durham MP, and skydiving as part of the challenge
In memory of Ged
As children, Ruth and Ged were close and saw each other regularly while growing up near Chester-le-Street and in Sunderland. They remained close as they got older and by 2018 were both working in London, where Ruth was setting up the University of Sunderland’s campus.
It was in Summer 2018 that Ged took his own life. Ruth was deeply affected by his death and she decided that she wanted to do something to help others who were suffering from mental ill health.
I reflected that while I might have been complaining about getting older and turning 40, Ged wouldn’t get that opportunity to turn 40. We should have turned 40 within six weeks of one another.
“So in terms of turning that grief into something positive and hopeful, I can turn this into something to mark his 40th birthday as well.”
What next?
The challenge was born when Ruth, a keen runner, decided to run and raise money for Mind in memory of Ged.
Ruth said: “I’d done the Great North Run and the London Marathon a couple of times. I thought I couldn’t run another marathon and ask someone to sponsor me for it, so I thought I’d push myself out of my comfort zone and run an ultramarathon.”
100km later, Ruth had run from London to Brighton and raised quite a bit of money for Mind, but she wanted to do more.
“I recognised that while I think I had got some element of support to my grief, it didn’t really feel enough. I found myself thinking, ‘what next?’, ‘what more can I do?’”
Following the ultramarathon, Ruth completed the London Classic – finishing the London Marathon, Ride London bicycle ride and Serpentine open water swim in the same year. She even did the marathon and cycle twice after the swim was cancelled in 2022, wanting to do all three in the same year – which she managed in 2023.
Having positivity in mind
In September this year, Ruth was one of Mind’s fundraisers who did the Great North Run. Together, they raised £380,000 from the event – enough to fund the charity’s 24-hour telephone and online engagement service for a year.
She took part alongside several of her family and friends, who also raised money for the £40k before 40 fund.
Ruth said: “The challenge started with an idea I had but over the years so many people have got involved and that’s been such a powerful and hopeful thing.
“It’s not just been support for me but also lots more conversations about why we’re fundraising for Mind and more conversations about people’s lived experiences around mental health.
“It’s been so touching and heartwarming. It feels like raising awareness is as important as raising the money – these conversations are powerful and I genuinely feel like they save lives.”
People coming together has been one of Ruth’s favourite things about the challenge, with social events being as much a part of the fundraising efforts as the physical challenges. They have also helped Ruth to remember the closeness and importance of relationships, as well as the role which that can play in reducing stigma.
These have included meals, Halloween parties and a St Patrick’s Day celebration. A childhood friend threw a homecoming concert in Ruth’s parents’ village, with the money raised going towards the £40k before 40 challenge. Hairy Biker Si King was also in attendance, and gave Ruth 100 signed cookbooks to sell.
The events also included a ball at Ruth’s College John Snow.
Bringing it all together
The challenge culminated on Saturday 19 October, when over 90 runners took part in the final £40k before 40 challenge. Participants tackled several distances to raise money – with the furthest being 40km.
The efforts from everyone at that event mean that the total now stands at more than £56,000. Having surpassed her initial target, Ruth is not sure she can give it all up just yet.
“I keep being asked if I am retiring from it now, and my honest answer at this point is, who knows? It feels like there is more to be done, so it's a watch this space!”
An Early Day Motion has also been tabled in the House of Commons by Durham City MP, Mary Kelly Foy, recognising Ruth and her fellow participants’ efforts, as well as calling on parliamentarians to recommit to improving mental health care.
Hope through action
Over the course of the challenge, Ruth’s outlook on both her grief and her hope has changed.
“At the start of the challenge I channelled all of my grief into it. When you’re doing physical challenges, you do get those endorphins from it, you have some time outdoors and get some time to think. It was a necessary part of grief at that time.
“As the challenge has expanded, it’s allowed me to recognise that nothing will fill the hole that grief from a suicide will cause; it won’t just suddenly feel better. Though the challenge has allowed me to think it’s helped others to feel better and not end up in that situation.”
Throughout, Ruth has adopted ‘hope through action’ as her motto. First used for World Suicide Prevention Day two years ago, the phrase has stayed with her since.
“It’s just stuck with me that what any one of us can aim to do is create hope. If I can take away from this challenge that I’ve given someone some hope, then it’s been worth it.”