20 Days: London Bridge & Back

To London Bridge and Back. In 20 days.

Local GScene writer Craig Hanlon-Smith is taking on a Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) 20-day active challenge to raise awareness & money for people living with HIV affected by depression and other mental health challenges.

From Monday June 8^th until Friday June 27^th he will run a total of 144.4 miles which is the distance from his house in Brighton to London Bridge and back again.

Craig said of the challenge: “I have travelled to London from Brighton and back every working day for thirteen years and I miss it.

I miss my friends in London and beyond. I miss their hugs, kisses and frequent conversations in close physical quarters. I miss my work colleagues past and present, daily interactions. I miss looking into the real eyes of all these people and being able to feel a reassuring hand on all our shoulders. I miss sitting opposite the same people on the train every day and never speaking to them. I miss every mundane detail of the trite I have forever taken for granted and despite being a ‘lucky one’ (not furloughed and with outside space – rolls eyes) on some days my own levels of anxiety are off the scale and I don’t always know what to do about it.

I do know how to run and I do know that exercise outside is a great healer.”

THT supports causes close to his heart and the wider LGBTQ community and many people across the UK who use THT’s services are facing particularly challenging times due to the current pandemic. For people living with HIV and in acute financial crisis, the situation is even more devastating, guaranteed to impact their mental health.

The THT Hardship Fund gives out small grants to people living with HIV in financial difficulty and can be a vital lifeline for those most vulnerable. These grants normally total £2,000 a month, but during the pandemic, THT have pledged to increase this to £20,000 each month.

If you would like to sponsor Craig you can donate here: