ROAD RUNNING
RUNNING FOR MENTAL HEALTH
In October , two runners will tackle an 800km coastal route from Cape Town to the Namibian border to raise funds for the Aimee Howard Foundation , and the work it does to promote mental health , and there ’ s a tragic but inspiring story behind this run . – BY SEAN FALCONER
Michael Larter will run from Cape Town to Namibia for the Aimee Howard Foundation
On the 16th of June 2017 , Aimee Howard took her own life . She had struggled with her mental health , but financial burdens prevented her from accessing the support and therapy she needed . Aimee was just 17 years old when she died . Recently , her high school boyfriend , Michael Larter , decided to establish the Aimee Howard Foundation in her honour , dedicated to ensuring that no young person is denied the critical mental health care they need , due to financial constraints .
Larter has himself found a measure of solace through running , which is why he is raising funds and awareness through a series of ultra-distance running challenges . As part of this , he will be setting out on 26 October to run nearly 800km over 14 days from Eden on The Bay , in Cape Town , to the Alexander Bay Border Control Post , on the South Africa / Namibia border . The planned route avoids all major highways and hugs the coastline , including passing through or near National Parks , and offering amazing views .
The challenge has been named Project SANAM800 , and Larter will be joined on his run to Namibia by Meagan Rioux , herself a vocal proponent of the benefits of movement for mental health , which saw her found the Show Up and Flow as well as the Show Up and Stroll yoga and walking groups in Cape Town . The pair will average 55km a day , and will make overnight stops in various West Coast towns , including Langebaan , Elandsbaai , Lamberts Bay , Lutzville , Hondeklip Bay , Kleinsee , and Port Nolloth . became a great launching pad to start the Aimee Howard Foundation fundraising in earnest . The cause is one that ’ s obviously close to my heart , and I know that we can make a real difference in the daily lives of many struggling people .”
“ For me running is essential to maintaining a positive mental state and dealing with the stresses of life , but I ’ m well aware that exercise is just a small part of the overall picture ,” he adds . “ I hope that the Aimee Howard Foundation can help break the stigma associated with depression , help young people realise that they are not alone in their struggles and that they should talk about them , and should reach out for help . Then , vitally , the primary aim of the charity is to fund that professional help , in the form of paying for counsellors , psychologists and psychiatrists .”
“ Our initial aim during the SANAM800 run is to raise 5000 US Dollars ,” Larter stated . “ But that is just phase one of the project . In the run across America , from Los Angeles to New York , we hope to tap into a larger , global , audience , thereby extending the fundraising potential of the Aimee Howard Foundation .”
Megan Rioux will join Michael Larter for the 800km run to Namiba
MAN ON A MISSION
Larter says he has dual aims for this challenge . “ Initially , the run to Namibia was conceived as a training run for the run across the United States of America , which I ’ m planning for 2025 . But it soon snowballed into its own challenge , though , and
Images : Justin Reinecke / zcmc . co . za
Larter will be joined by fellow movement and mental health advocate Meagan Rioux
TO FOLLOW AND SUPPORT PROJECT SANAM800 , GO TO WWW . SANAM800 . COM OR YOU CAN FOLLOW MICHAEL LARTER ON INSTAGRAM , @ MICHAELUNCHARTED . FOR MORE ON THE AIMEE HOWARD FOUNDATION , VISIT WWW . AIMEEHOWARDFOUNDATION . ORG .
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