6 down, 6 to go - Holly reaches half-way! A big CONGRATULATIONS to Holly Haywood who has reached the half way point in her challenge of completing 12 marathons in 12 months in aid of APP! Holly bravely battled the heat and sunshine in August to complete her fifth and sixth marathons, and was joined by some of her colleagues to help her and keep her spirits up along the way. Holly says: 'The fifth marathon was on 1st August with my work mates. The route was much better, completing an out and back route. Really enjoying being closer to the half way challenge point!! The weather was hot, which is bad in the running world, feeling more drained and takes more of your energy to keep going. Have to thank my amazing friends Dave and Charlotte for again running with me step for step and keeping the 'good chat' along the way, despite my moments when I completely ignore them because I need every cell in my body to just focus on keeping going!!' Holly then took on her sixth marathon on 27th August in Woldingham, she said: 'It was a really tough run on Sunday though. 28 degrees the high and the route was not very shady. I managed to complete the half marathon as started feeling the effects of the sun. The route started from Woldingham school in Caterham and did a lap of the North Downs way. It was a trail run with lots of steep inclines. Not for the faint hearted!! 4 hours later I completed the half and was pleased to have some water and shade to recover!' We can't thank Holly enough for taking on this enormous challenge in aid of APP, especially battling through the heat in order to reach her half-way point, what an achievement already! Please donate what you can to support Holly's amazing challenge via her Just Giving page here. Gill Wood to run the Great North Run! Gill says : Before Megan I knew nothing about postpartum psychosis, I had never been in a psychiatric unit before, or even really heard about psychosis. I was already a mum to Amy, I was working, my life was very quiet. The psychosis started when Megan was 8 days old, it is one of the most terrifying things I'd ever experienced and I ended up on a mixed psychiatric ward. I was 23, poorly with something the ward staff knew very little about. This is why APP (Action on Postpartum Psychosis) is so important. They work tirelessly to support mums like me and raise awareness of an illness that can happen to anyone. They provided me with information on pregnancy, medications etc as well as producing leaflets for partners, who can sometimes feel completely alone watching the mother of their child become so poorly. Whilst pregnant with Jack I was also given a peer support worker who became a rock. I could always email and knew she'd be there. I was quite poorly during my pregnancy as I'd lowered my bipolar medication (there's a strong link between psychosis after birth and bipolar) but my peer worker supported me all the way. Especially after Jack was born, when unfortunately I became poorly again. As you probably know I love running, the freedom of running has helped my mental health and I don't know where I'd be without it. I started again 3 weeks after Jack was born and never looked back. I want to give something back to APP as they are a small charity but their work is vital. One thing I have learnt is post natal illness does not discriminate and charities such as APP are essential in supporting families at what should be the happiest time of their lives. I appreciate it's the summer holidays so if you're anything like us we are are waiting for payday! But any amount you can give would be much appreciated! Thank you so much. Love Gill xxxxx' Please support Gill in her Great North Run, you can donate via her Just Giving page here. A big thank you to Gill, and wishing you the very best of luck for 10th September! APP Charity of the Year for Bradford Midwifery Society 2017-18! APP are delighted to announce that we have been chosen to be University of Bradford Midwifery Society's Charity of the Year for 2017-18! The University of Bradford Midwifery Society was established to support and unite midwifery students and professionals, and create a dynamic and energetic forum for shared learning and development. They say: 'The impact of the society continues to grow momentum, creating a global village that empowers its individuals. This strength and passion leads to greater advocacy for women; best practice and informed choice; and committed and compassionate care for all. 'The charity we have chosen is Action on Postpartum Psychosis, an amazing charity who support women and their families who are affected by postpartum psychosis. Our committee would like to raise awareness and focus on perinatal mental health and for it to be the theme of many of our events that we have planned for this year.' We are told the first event in the diary will be Freshers Week, where they recruit their newest cohort to the midwifery society - you can find out more via their website here, or on their Facebook and Twitter pages. APP are really thrilled to have been chosen as their Charity of the Year and we can't wait to get involved with all their events and activities throughout the next twelve months...watch this space! Rik & Hannah running the Barns Green Half on 24 September! A big Thank You to Rik & Hannah who are preparing to run the Barns Green Half marathon on 24th September, in Horsham, West Sussex in aid of APP! The Barns Green Half is run on closed roads through the beautiful West Sussex countryside, passing through the historic Christ’s Hospital school, where the School’s famous marching band will be playing. They say 'we also have a jazz band at the start/finish and four other bands along the route, where there are water stations, distance markers, marshals and of course the support of all the locals and spectators.' It sounds like quite a fun, music filled half marathon event! Rik and Hannah are already busy fundraising and would be grateful for extra support, so, please dig deep if you can, and donate via their Just Giving page - wishing you both the best of luck for 24th September, let's hope it stays sunny! Sally & Ruth's £3k for 3K at Big Welsh Swim! A very big congratulations and thank you to Sally and Ruth who completed the 3k Big Welsh Swim last Saturday, 22nd July! They lucked out with the weather, with a beautifully sunny day at Lake Padarn, North Wales. They said: Some very happy smiley faces, after completing their 3k swim! They have already raised over £2,500 and their Just Giving page is still accepting donations - please support them and give what you can. Congratulations to you both, a great achievement! Thank you from us all at APP. APP Quiz and Pop-Up Shop in 'The Leopard' Tutbury! Wednesday 5th July saw some of APP’s volunteers suffer the indignity of coming last in yet another pub quiz! Whatever: the night went with a swing for APP in other ways. We are greatly indebted to The Leopard’s landlady, Karen (Kaz) Maclean and her big-hearted family for all the hard work which they put into such a successful and fun event - raising APP’s profile in the Midlands and £400 for our funds. Kaz provided all the food for free, she set up a nearly-new pop up shop, contributed quiz and raffle prizes and hosted the entire night with aplomb. It was an unusual quiz. Picture each team trying to build a house with Bourbon biscuits and a large bar of chocolate or wandering around the pub looking for things beginning with “p”…. Hmmm, yes - rude in parts! I should like to thank all those who provided items for the pop-up shop, quiz and raffle and all those who supported us, especially Elaine Williams who promoted us in Tutbury and did so much more besides. If you are ever in Tutbury, visit "The Leopard"; a small but warm community pub, with a lovely family at its helm and a charitable core at its heart. Heather x 12 marathons in 12 months to celebrate Leo and his mum! Nov 5th, 2017 is little Leo's birthday. His aunt, Holly Haywood, has set herself a massive challenge: to run 12 marathons in 12 months. Holly reasons that if her sister can pull through the shock and heartache of PP then surely she, too, can climb this marathon "mountain" in aid of APP but also in celebration of her brave sister and little Leo. Holly has already completed The Thames Marathon, The Brighton and The Exeter Marathon and has just completed her fourth marathon where she was joined along the way by some of her colleagues. She said: ‘3 of us set off at 09:00 and the first half marathon was completed in 2 hours 30mins. We mainly ran on rural roads and along the beautiful Basingstoke canal. The weather was perfect, overcast and cool. The second half we were joined by two more colleagues, this half was more hilly and the legs were not enjoying it as much! We finished the marathon in 5:39, equalling my PB from the Exeter marathon.’ Fortunately colleagues have offered to run with Holly for varying distances, on her next two local marathons (the next one taking place on 1st August), in order to support this valiant effort. Then she will be halfway there! No pressure! It is truly tough to keep going at such a huge challenge - as well as tout for sponsors - so we at APP are putting a big shout-out to all of you out there. Please take a look at Holly's fundraising page and dig deep if you possibly can - www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Hollys-Marathon-challenge Holly is hoping to complete all 12 marathons in time for Leo's birthday on 5th November, and here's hoping Holly's page receives the sponsorship it deserves by little Leo's next birthday! A very big Thank You to Holly and all her supporters! Deborah braves Lake Windermere for the Great North Swim! The weather over the weekend was challenging, but all the swimmer and supporters were all fantastic and kept smiling all day. Deborah said: 'We did it - Sunday event was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. This resulted in an emergency child care cover Saturday morning, 2 hr drive up to Low Fell, quick jog t the event, quick change, swim the lake, out and change back, jog back to the car and 2 hrs drive back to Leeds. Today has been mainly PJ's. Thank you all for your donations and support. It kept me going through training and the swim. In memory of those women and babies who sadly lost their lives to the cruel illness that is postnatal mental illness. x' A big congratulations and thank you to Deborah from all of us at APP! (and you can still donate via her Just Giving page here) PPIMHS Team Complete the Great Newham Run! They said 'We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and am glad to report that we are still fundraising!' They certainly look very happy on completing their run, a big congratulations and thank you from everyone at APP! Please do continue to support their fundraising efforts; you can still donate via their Virgin Money Giving page here. Is this the most fun way to raise money? It wasn't the first time. She enjoyed it so much last year she went back for more! It does look like a LOT of fun. Who wants to sign up for next year? 
A big thank you to Gill Wood who is taking on the challenge of the Great North Run, the largest half marathon in the world, on 10th September in aid of APP!
'Nearly a year ago to the day I was discharged from a mum and baby unit in Morpeth with baby Jack. I'd been there since he was 2 weeks old. We always knew there was a chance I'd get poorly as I unexpectedly became very poorly with postpartum (after birth) psychosis after we had Megan 12 years ago, hence us waiting so long for Jack! 
Each year the Society support a different charity and for 2017-18 they have decided to support APP, they said:
'Thank-you so so much for all your support. We made it! What a great day, with gorgeous weather and amazing people! #£3kfor3k xxx'
Congratulations to Deborah Page, Clinical Team Leader of Perinatal Mental Health at Leeds MBU, who braved the cold of Lake Windermere and successfully completed the Great North Swim on 9th June!
A very big thank you to Dr Neha Rawat and colleagues and family of PPIMHS (Perinatal Parent Infant Mental Health Service) at NELFT (North East London NHS Foundation Trust) who completed the 10k Great Newham London run which took place on Sunday 2nd July.
Even though she hates running, Jocelyn took part in the Manchester Color Run on 1 July to raise money for APP: donate here
