One Promise That Never Fades: Rob’s London Marathon Fundraising for East Kent Mind
For Rob Brady, the London Marathon is about far more than 26.2 miles. It’s a personal commitment, a decade-long promise, and a way to keep talking about mental health openly and honestly.
Rob’s running journey began in 2016 with just 100 metres – a first step that helped him rebuild physically and mentally. Since then, those small distances have grown into 5Ks, marathons, and ultra marathons, each one a marker of progress and resilience.
This year’s London Marathon feels especially significant: race day marks 10 years since Rob lost his friend Chris, and running on that anniversary is his way of honouring Chris’s life and carrying his spirit forward.
Rob is fundraising for East Kent Mind because he wanted his efforts to have a direct local impact – supporting mental health services in the communities where we live.
In this Q&A, he shares the story behind “One Promise That Never Fades”, the reality of training around family life and work, and why fundraising for mental health is ultimately about connection.
What inspired you to take on the London Marathon this year, and why did you choose to fundraise for East Kent Mind?
My inspiration didn’t begin with a marathon. It began in 2016 with 100 metres. At that point in my life, physically and mentally, even that felt uncomfortable. Running became a tool for rebuilding. It wasn’t about pace, it was about progress and over time, 100 metres became 5ks, then marathons, then ultra marathons. Each step marked growth, resilience and a deeper understanding of why movement mattered.
London feels significant because it represents more than distance. Race day marks 10 years since we lost my friend Chris. On that day it will have been 3,717 days since he’s been here. I’ve counted them and running London within the 10-year anniversary feels like honouring a decade of promise, a commitment to keep talking about mental health openly and honestly.
I chose East Kent Mind because I wanted this to be local. I’ve supported national charities before, but sometimes they can feel distant. I met Simon Dolby (East Kent Mind Development Lead) years ago through another charity and connected with his thinking. When he moved to East Kent Mind, I followed the work being done. Supporting them means the money raised goes straight back into communities we live in. That local impact matters.
Can you tell us about your training journey so far – what has been the biggest challenge and the most rewarding moment?
Training was meant to start at Christmas, but I got ill. What I expected to be a short break turned into enforced recovery. It was frustrating with April approaching, but it reminded me that endurance can’t be rushed. You build it patiently.
Much of this block has been done through winter, dark mornings, cold evenings, treadmill sessions while the house is asleep. Those miles are quiet and honest. The biggest challenge hasn’t been the physical effort, it’s been balance. I’m a father to twins, I work full-time, and my partner is training to be a counsellor. As the long runs stretch to 3/4 hours at weekends, that time has to come from somewhere. Managing that without dropping the ball at home has been the hardest part.
The most rewarding moments have been subtle. Finishing a long run knowing I honoured the plan. Feeling stronger week by week and knowing that, quietly, I’m modelling commitment to my children, showing them that promises matter.
Chris and Rob Brady
Your JustGiving page talks about “One Promise That Never Fades.” What does that message mean to you, and how does it connect to the cause you’re supporting?
Chris was warm, energetic and deeply connected to people. He could light up a room. When someone like that dies by suicide, it shakes you. After we lost him, I made a quiet promise that his spirit wouldn’t fade with time. I would keep speaking about him. I would keep challenging silence around mental health and I would not let his name become something avoided.
Ten years on, that promise still stands. “One Promise That Never Fades” is about carrying his impact forward. It’s about turning grief into action. Supporting East Kent Mind connects directly to that commitment. It’s about making sure people in our local community have somewhere to turn before crisis becomes irreversible. Every mile I run and every pound raised becomes part of keeping that promise alive.
How has the support from your friends, family and the wider community helped motivate you throughout your marathon journey and fundraising efforts?
Community is everything, and it’s what I run for in memory of Chris. My partner has been incredibly supportive, even while managing her own training to become a counsellor. She understands the why behind this, which makes the early alarms and long weekends easier.
The twins asking if I’ve got a medal after a race, or whether they can join me on a long run, keeps it grounded. They don’t know the full depth of it yet, but they see commitment and that matters.
Then there are the private messages from people sharing their own experiences, the donations from friends, family and people I work with who know that I speak about wellbeing both inside and outside of work. That support turns a solo challenge into something collective. On harder days, knowing others believe in the cause keeps me moving forward.
What would you say to others who might be thinking about fundraising for a mental health charity – what advice or encouragement would you give them?
Be authentic. Share your training honestly, the highs, the lows and the reality but most importantly, talk about your why. The event itself isn’t what moves people. The meaning behind it does. You have to fundamentally believe in the cause. When you do, that depth comes through. Don’t be afraid to share your link and thank people publicly when they support you. That recognition builds community and momentum.
Fundraising for mental health isn’t about performance, it’s about connection. When your story is real and your belief is genuine, people feel it and sometimes, beyond the money raised, the conversations that follow are the most important impact of all.
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Thanks to Rob for speaking to us about his marathon journey and his amazing fundraising efforts.
If you can, please support Rob’s London Marathon fundraising. Your donation helps East Kent Mind provide mental health and wellbeing support that make such a difference to the local community.
If you would like to take on the London Marathon for East Kent Mind next year? We’d love to hear from you! Find out how to apply for a charity place and start your fundraising journey.
