All posts by Fliss Lambert

20 December 2023

Emily and Andy – dream team!

APP volunteer Emily Saunders has even more reasons to celebrate this Christmas as she has just come to the end of an incredible year long Miles for Mums and Babies challenge!

Over the last 12 months she has walked an amazing 1000 miles to raise funds and awareness for APP. Emily took on this mammoth challenge to help support other families affected by postpartum psychosis. She suffered from postpartum psychosis and severe postnatal depression and anxiety after her daughter was born back in 2017.

Emily now volunteers with APP to help raise awareness.  She says: 'Through APP I have met inspiring, strong women who survived this illness and with whom I can share experiences'

Emily has continued to walk throughout this year, fitting it in around her job and busy family life.  She says: 'Walking is something which really helps my mental health and was so important to my recovery. I love being in the fresh air, enjoying nature, taking time to think, listening to podcasts and spending time both alone and with friends and family.'

Not only has Emily walked 1000 miles, and been supported by nearly 40 donors, she's also sponsored herself - saving a little bit each week to reflect the miles she's done for APP.

Read more and add your support for Emily here: www.justgiving.com/page/emily-saunders-1000milewalk

But Emily is not alone in her mission to raise funds for APP though – her partner Andy is also taking on his own challenges. In October he completed the Macclesfield Half Marathon and next March, he’ll be heading to France to take on the Paris Half Marathon!

Do add your support to help him get through these harsh winter training days…  www.justgiving.com/page/andrew-rolfe-1700334019667

What an amazing couple! The biggest thank you from all of us at APP to Emily, Andy, their family and all those who have supported them.

5 December 2023

Lee's final challenge!

Lee bungee jumpingOur amazing fundraiser and dad of two, Lee Smith, is taking on one final physical challenge this month to round off a year of incredible achievements.

Lee’s wife Jess was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis, a severe mental illness, after the birth of their second daughter in 2020, and Lee is passionate about raising awareness and funds to help other families affected.

In the last 12 months Lee has completed 13 challenges – he started last December with a 10 mile mystery run; then went on to climb the three highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales; completed 100,000 steps in 24 hours; ran 5k a day in March; finished the Alnwick 10k, the Great Run 10k and the Great North Run; plus a Total Warrior obstacle course and he got his adrenaline pumping with a 100mph zipwire adventure and a 140ft bungee jump!

He’s battled through all weathers – from snow and ice to heatwaves, fought personal illness, fitted challenges around work and family commitments and managed to convince friends and family to take part in many events alongside him as well.

For his final event on 10th December, Lee will take on his longest, most challenging run of all – 22 miles from the family home in Washington to the specialist Mother & Baby Unit in Morpeth – where Jess spent several months receiving treatment when she was ill.

Lee says: 'Jess was sectioned on 8th December and first time I was allowed in (all masked up because of COVID) was the 11th so my final run represents the whole journey perfectly.  I’m so immensely proud of Jess and everything we’ve been through as a family and the challenges I’ve undertaken this year have been a good representation of this, as well as (without realising) helping me through some really dark days. APP is always going to have a special place in my heart thanks to the support and help it has given us as a family’.

Jess is now recovered and both Lee and Jess volunteer for APP – Jess as a peer supporter and Lee through his fundraising and awareness raising.

To support Lee on his amazing final challenge, please visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lee-smith215

19 October 2023

Laura's 50 miles in a month!

Laura wearing her purple APP running vestThis October, mum of two Laura Walton is taking on a massive Miles for Mums and Babies challenge - running 50 miles in a month for APP.  Laura admits she is not a runner – saying she hasn’t run since before her wedding in 2014!  But she is keen to take on this challenge for APP to help raise awareness and funds.

Laura is passionate about raising awareness of postpartum psychosis since she herself was diagnosed after the birth of her first baby, Katie.  Laura had worked in childcare for nearly 20 years and felt like there was nothing she didn’t know about babies and children – but in all her years of working with children and parents, she had never heard about postpartum psychosis.

After her baby was born, Laura says she just didn’t feel right – ‘everything felt weird’ - and she could hear voices in her head.  She became obsessed with the idea of her baby getting ill or dying and felt she had to stay awake to keep watch over Katie. After 10 days with no sleep, her husband took her to hospital where, even though she shared exactly how she was feeling, her symptoms were not recognised as PP and she was not admitted.  As is often the case with PP, things got worse quickly, and Laura ended up being sectioned, with six police officers involved.  After being separated from her baby and held overnight in a room in the hospital, finally she was admitted to Leeds MBU. This was two hours away from her home and family, but it meant she could be together with her baby. Her husband and mother visited every day, spending hours travelling to and fro. Laura spent more than three months in the MBU, then was cared for by her community mental health team at home until she fully recovered.

Her journey to recovery was long and challenging, but after four years she felt well enough to be able to try for another baby – fully understanding that PP might come back, but she felt prepared for this and wanted to try.  As soon as she got pregnant, she started to feel early symptoms, so quickly accessed support and suitable medication, which kept her and her baby healthy throughout the rest of her pregnancy.

Laura is challenging herself to run 50 miles this month because she wants everyone to be aware of the signs and symptoms of PP, and to know how quickly it can affect new mums and mums to be. She says:

‘When I was ill, no one ever told me or my her family that I would get better – it was terrifying to think I might never be myself again.’

Laura is now back to the person she was before. She very aware of what can affect her mental health and is mindful about looking after herself.  She’s studying counselling and wants to do more to help understanding of mental health, particularly in new mothers.

She plans to celebrate completing her final mile with a party for all her family and friends at the end of the month.

To support Laura’s 50 mile challenge, visit her GoFundMe page here.

Thank you for your support Laura!

14 September 2023

Chris kicks off his awareness raising football tour

This weekend, one of our partner peer support volunteers, Chris Wasley, will be kicking off his latest challenge for APP.  Chris is already a seasoned fundraiser for us, having completed a 10K race and an epic coastal walk.  But this time his focus is on raising awareness more than funds.

Chris is on a mission to attend a match at every football ground closest to each MBU in the UK.

Here he tells us a bit more about what he has planned and why he's doing it.

'In 2019, shortly after the birth of our first child, our son, my amazing wife Natalie experienced postpartum psychosis.

Our journey with postpartum psychosis has lasted years. And I can honestly say that it is the most frightening challenge we are ever likely to face.

Last year in 2022, we welcomed our second child, our daughter, and thankfully we haven’t experienced it again. But postpartum psychosis has always been there impacting our lives.

Postpartum psychosis is a topic very close to us as a family.

And I have made a promise to help raise as much awareness as possible for this mental illness.

I am very proud of my growing relationship with this wonderful charity Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP).

Currently there are 22 Mother and Baby Units (MBUs) in the UK who help to provide specialist inpatient treatment to mothers (and their babies) experiencing a wide range of mental illness.

To those who know me, it is no secret that football is a love and addiction of mine.

So I have decided to embark on a personal challenge that will allow me to fulfil my promise to raise awareness of Postpartum Psychosis and to satisfy my hunger for football!

So over the next few years I will be attending football matches at grounds around and closest to the 22 MBUs in the UK.

To raise awareness at the grounds and amongst the football community I will be wearing a rather beautiful football shirt that I have had designed and made that clearly represents postpartum psychosis, APP and the MBUs.

My first game will be at Southampton FC on 15th September, this is the ground closest to  Winchester MBU, with my dad Gary.

I know this challenge will take some years to complete with the number of grounds there are to visit and having a young family at home (and work I suppose!), but I am really excited for it and all the good I hope it will achieve.'

Chris is aiming to pop into each MBU on his journey too, to thank the dedicated staff for the amazing work they do. He knows that this is a long term adventure - Chris thinks towards the end, his son might even be old enough to come along with him to some of the games.

*** UPDATE***

Chris had a fantastic time at the match, and managed to get an entry about his challenge included in the match day programme - such a great way to raise awareness of PP.

He says:

'Southampton lost 4-1 at home to Leicester City. It certainly wasn't the result the home support hoped for but it was a good game for the neutral and good to see 5 goals! 

My dad Gary enjoyed the game with me so that was great!

Southampton FC put a lovely entry in their match day programme about me and my experience, which was actually much more detailed and longer than we had agreed which was very kind of them as I know they get lots of requests and have limited space. 
I have been speaking with the Winchester MBU and am in the process of arranging a date to see them. I was just planning on saying hello and thankyou but they want me to have a talk about my experience!'
Here's a few pictures Chris shared with us - his APP football shirt is looking good!
Chris and his dad Gary inside the stadium Chris wearing his purple APP football shirt standing outside Southampton Football Club stadium

And here's his entry in the programme:

An image of the inside of the match day programme featuring Chris in his purple APP football shirt

Chris's next match will be in Accrington later this month, and he is already making connections with dads and football fans across the country who are keen to join him on his challenge.

Thank you Chris for all you're doing to raise awareness!

*** UPDATE 23.10.23 ***

Chris is back from the second fixture of his fantastic awareness raising tour - this weekend he was at Accrington Stanley:

"On Saturday 21st October I attended my second match of my football awareness tour! I went to see Accrington Stanley beat MK Dons one - nil in a narrow win to move Accrington into the League Two play-off spots. 
This was a very significant ground to visit for my challenge. Accrington is my wife's home town and most of her family still live in the area. Chorley Ribblemere is the closest MBU only 20 miles away.  I was certainly not short of company and support for this fixture! With my father-in-law Nigel, my wife's uncles Dave, Sean and Ged, and our friend Pat all coming to the game with me! 
Unfortunately despite our best efforts we couldn't get an entry in the matchday programme, but I have to say my APP/MBU football shirt got a lot of attention! I spoke to several fans and club associates supporting both Accrington and MK about our experience and the wonderful work of APP and the MBUs."
Chris also shared some more wonderful photos of his trip up north!
A group of six men with Chris at the centre, standing in front of a stadium at Accrington Stanley FC Chris looking out over the pitch at Accrington Stanley FC, wearing his purple APP shirt with MBU on the back
Chris's next stop will be a match at Stoke City FC on 20th January - keep an eye out for updates on here!

***

If you're a dad or co-parent that would like to meet and talk with others whose partners have experienced PP, join our virtual Dads and Co-parents peer support social / cafe group - 8-9pm, every 3rd Wednesday of the month.
Zoom joining link: bit.ly/PARTNERMEET. Or, email Simon: simon@app-network.org

30 August 2023

Vote for APP to help us win £10,000!

Helping Hands Community Grants

We're delighted to announce that APP have been shortlisted for one of JoJo Maman Bébé's Helping Hands Community Grants this year.

12 organisations have been shortlisted, but only six will receive a grant worth up to £10,000 and we need your help to ensure APP is one of them!

All you need to do is click here, scroll down to select Action on Postpartum Psychosis before the 13th September 2023.  It's free, it only takes seconds and there's no need to sign up to a mailing list.

Once you've voted, please tell all your friends, family and colleagues to vote for APP too - the more we get, the more likely we are to receive one of the grants. You could share the link via Whatsapp or email, or look out for and share our social media posts.

£10,000 would make a huge difference to our work, providing peer support for women and families affected by PP via our forum, on a one-to-one basis and through our regional ‘café’ groups.

“The peer support service is fabulous… [it] fosters knowledge and works to create greater awareness of PP and I am very glad to be involved with this. I still can’t talk to anyone else about my illness. To have the recognition and support of others who have suffered as I have when their babies were tiny is invaluable to my mental well-being.”

We'll find out after the 13th September whether we have been successful!

Thank you for your support.

18 May 2023

Becky's epic #milesformumsandbabies challenge!

At 4am last Saturday, 12th May, mum of three Becky Styles set out on an epic 43 mile walk/run to raise funds for, and awareness of APP.

Becky took on this challenge as part of our #milesformumsandbabies campaign, choosing 43 miles as it's the distance from her home to her closest mother and baby unit.

She also gave herself the target of raising £2400 - representing the number of mums who would have been diagnosed with PP in the two years since Becky herself was diagnosed after the birth of her twin daughters in May 2021.

She's actually gone on to totally smash her fundraising target, reaching an incredible £3100!

She told us:

I set off at 4am from my home in Wolverton and walked most of the route alongside the canal. It took 13 hrs 20 mins including stops.

My dad biked the whole way with me, my brother started the first 16 miles with me, then went in the car with my mum until 6 miles left which helped me at the end.

The last 17 miles I decided to try and run as much as I could. By 7 miles left I was in tears a few times like, feeling like - I can't do this! I couldn’t have done it without the support.

With support though, she completed the full 43 miles and the whole family was there to celebrate with her as she crossed the finish line!

Becky has also bravely shared her PP story and her family's journey on her GoFundMe page, helping to raise awareness of the illness. Do check it out and add your support to congratulate her on this amazing achievement.

A huge thank you from all of us here at APP to Becky for undertaking such a huge challenge and being such an inspirational fundraiser!

11 May 2023

IronMan Alex's Record Breaking Challenge for APP

APP are incredibly honoured that Team GB Triathlete Alex Heron is taking on an unbelievable, record breaking Ironman challenge for us this year. 

He shares his inspirational story here:

'I began my triathlon career in 2012 at age 64 with MVH triathlon club in Derbyshire. Like an ageing idiot, 11 years later I have successfully applied to compete in the 75 -79 age group category for Ironman Wales this September, 2023.  For all of my active life I have stubbornly said, “I will NEVER DO A FULL IRONMAN”. There really is nothing to recommend it except for the promise of getting my first manly tattoo on the back of rather puny and rapidly shrinking calves.

Tenby Ironman is one of the toughest full Ironman races in the world and has NEVER BEEN COMPLETED by a person in the 75-79 age group. It consists of a sea swim of 3.8 kilometres, a cycle race of 180 kilometres, ending with a full 42 kilometre marathon run. But the Welsh are ‘ard and their triathletes and runners (at Celtic Tri and 3 M’s Gorseinon Running club ) have embraced me; they have believed in this stringy ancient Irishman because I give them cake and anyway they smell revenge for the rugby.

I think I’m a competent triathlete; I think this because there is a shed at the bottom of my garden in Mumbles which I prefer to call a gym and it is festooned with impressive (if admittedly rusting) medals - even those hard earned British and European ones. But, there really is no guarantee that I will finish this race in the required time of under 17 hours. So : If you choose to donate/sponsor me you might prefer to do a “single sum” for finishing the event or an amount per kilometre.

Why attempt it then ? Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) is a registered UK charity. I have seen from the outset and at first hand what amazing work its brilliant team (under its CEO - my daughter Dr. Jess Heron) does for those Mums who, often out of the blue, are assaulted by PP..

PP is a severe, but treatable, form of mental illness that occurs after having a baby and affects 1400 new mums in the UK each year. APP offers information, training, and peer support, facilitates ground breaking research, raises awareness and campaigns for improved services. Its life changing peer support-network helps women and families affected by postpartum psychosis to feel understood, supported and less isolated. This charity leads the way in the field of PP and its growth in ensuring greater public understanding has been truly amazing.

Still so much to do - but though a full Ironman presents a huge challenge to me personally it is as nothing compared with the family impact of Postpartum Psychosis.'

Please support Alex on his amazing mission to become the first person in the 75-79 age group to complete the Tenby Triathlon by visiting his JustGiving page.

29 March 2023

A Brother and Sister's Story - Natalie and Rob

Thank you so much to siblings Natalie and Rob for sharing their story with us.

Rob is running his first ever marathon this weekend in Brighton to help raise funds for and awareness of APP.

We were so inspired after speaking to both Rob and Nat that we asked them to share a few words about their experiences and what they mean to each other.

Nat and Rob huggingNat:
'I am Natalie, Rob’s sister. I’m so proud and thrilled for Rob to be running the 2023 Brighton Marathon. He has dug deep in his physical and mental limits during his dedicated training and it has been inspiring for me to see.

APP is a charity that means a lot to our family as I was diagnosed with Postpartum Psychosis six years ago. After a very happy and healthy pregnancy I gave birth to my son Finn in May of 2017. Seven days later I was admitted to the mother and baby unit at Royal Bethlam hospital and stayed there for three months.

It was a scary time for us all as we had never heard of Postpartum Psychosis and I was subsequently diagnosed with bipolar, but I’m pleased to say that with treatment and tremendous support I have made a full recovery and lead a very happy life.

APP are doing a great job of raising awareness of this illness that so many have never heard of. They provide amazing support to affected mums and families when they need it most and I want my story to provide hope to those reading this.'

Rob:
'I’m so excited to be running my first marathon this week and feel really proud to be representing APP.

It’s so important that we raise awareness for Postpartum Psychosis as it affects families without any warning. My sister was the last person I expected to be visiting in hospital but I’m so happy to say that she’s now living her best life and is the best version of herself that I’ve ever seen.

It goes to show how important the right support and treatment is and that everyone affected by Postpartum Psychosis should have hope for a healthy and happy future.

My sister’s strength and resilience inspires me every day and will be fuelling me on my run; can’t wait!'

You can add your support to Rob as he runs the Brighton Marathon on 2nd April by visiting his JustGiving page.