Verity Westgate

In 2009, I entered the Great North Swim, one mile outside, to raise money for Mind, the mental health charity, in memory of my dear friend Emily, who took her life in 2007. I breaststroked slowly round. The bug of swimming and raising money/ awareness for an issue very close to my heart bit, and I upped the game. In 2010 I swam 3.8km in Dorney Lake, and in 2011, I swam 10k in the same place, all to raise money for Mind and give me the chance to talk about mental health issues with my colleagues and family and friends. I have raised over £5000 for Mind, and learnt the benefit of the role of exercise in ensuring my own mental health.