Action on Postpartum Psychosis

A big Thank You to Louise and Alfie who successfully completed the 5K Mental Elf run in Blackburn on Sunday 1st December! Louise and Alfie were running in support of APP and Ribblemere Mother & Baby Unit.

Louise said: "I really enjoyed it and Alfie did amazingly well, he was my motivation. We raised £220 to split between APP and the MBU."

It looks like a very cold day, so huge thanks to them both and to everyone who supported and donated via Louise's JustGiving page!

Huge thanks to Anna McClure who hosted a fantastic concert on Friday 25th October at St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen, in aid of APP!

Developed by Aberdeen-based performance artist Angela Margaret and composer Anna McClure, the concert was partly based on the famous short story, 'The Yellow Wallpaper' written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 1892, which explores a woman’s struggle with Postpartum Psychosis. Anna composed a new and original piece for the concert, The Yellow Wallpaper for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, percussion and piano with a performance piece by artist, Angela Margaret. The concert also featured a short talk by APP's Sally Wilson!

Anna says: "The concert included a musical/ performance art version of 'The Yellow Wallpaper’ which was particularly powerful being preceded by a talk from Sally Wilson about her experience of PP, and the work that APP does.  We had a good sized audience for a lunchtime concert and hope to have raised awareness of PP and some money for APP to continue doing their excellent work. "

Huge thanks to Anna and to everyone involved!

Huge congratulations to Jenn, who successfully completed the York Gunpowder Plot 10k on Sunday 3rd November, in aid of APP!

Jenn said "All done! Muddy but fun! I am delighted with the amount I’ve raised, it should now be around £1000 including gift aid. I am really grateful to everyone who donated and especially to Jonny for running it with me and chatting to me all the way round!"

It looks like Jenn had a fantastic time, and has raised a huge amount in aid of APP,  just amazing! You can still donate to Jenn's JustGiving page here.

Thank you so much to Jenn for all her hard work and to everyone who so generously donated as well - we couldn't do this without your support.

A big Thank You to the Arnside Ladies' Choir who performed hits from the musicals on Friday 1st November, in aid of APP.

We're told it was a great success with the Village Hall packed, and with admission money and a raffle they managed to raise over £600 for APP, which is just fantastic! The event also featured a very moving reading from Jessica Pidsley's 'Mutha Courage' blog as well.

Huge thanks to the Arnside Ladies' Choir and to everyone who so generously donated - we couldn't do this without your support!

A very big Thank You and Congratulations to our 'Fab Four': Pete, Julie, Emma & Jessie, who completed this year's Royal Parks Half Marathon on Sunday 13th October!

All four of them completed the course, amongst all the mud, and have managed raise £1,300 between them, which is amazing, and it looks like they all had a fantastic time!

Pete said: "After a nightmare getting there with Green Park tube station being shut over safety fears and having to walking just over half a mile to Hyde Park, I managed to finish in 2hr 18 so I was well happy with that time. Thank you for letting me run for APP, it’s been a privilege"

You can still donate to Pete's JustGiving page here.

Julie said: "Today’s race was amazing, I loved it! And did it in 2h 35 which I am really happy about."

You can donate to Julie's Virgin Money Giving page here.

Jessie said: "Yeah! We did it! 🏅 Well done to all the other APP runners. Amazing atmosphere. So tired now!"

You can donate to Jessie's JustGiving page here.

Emma said: "I finished in 3 hours which for me is embarrassingly good! One of the other APP runners v kindly tapped me on the shoulder as she was running - was lovely to see. Thanks so much again, was a real honour to wear the APP vest."

You can donate to Emma's JustGiving page here.

And a final BIG THANK YOU to Pete, Julie, Emma and Jessie - you're all amazing and we couldn't do this with your support!

A very big Thank You to Kelly and Robert who battled through a huge downpour of rain to complete the 10K Forestry Race in Thetford Forest on 6th October, in aid of APP and the National Autistic Society and have  raised  £1,150 - amazing!

Kelly says: "The weather was terrible, more like a swim than a run at times but we did it and are both really proud. Honestly the photos don't quite do it justice as to how ridiculously wet it was...there were several near misses at the classic 'Vicar of Dibley' moment as there was more puddle than track for pretty much the entire 10KM course but despite that I got a real buzz out of doing the run.

We've far exceeded our expectations on the fundraising front and hopefully the update with the photos showing us dripping wet may help drum up a few more donations."

What amazing dedication from them both! Thank you so much!

Please support Kelly & Robert and donate what you can on their Virgin Money Giving page here.

Congratulations and big thanks to Raechel, who completed the Windsor Half marathon on 29th September in aid of APP!

Raechel says: "I completed the marathon in the wind and rain in 2 hours 41 mins.  It was a really great day and hope what I have raised helps APP."

You can still donate to Raechel's JustGiving page here.

Thank you so much Raechel for all your hard work and support of APP!

Huge thanks to Jenn who is running the Gunpowder plot, York 10K on 3rd November, in aid of APP!

The York Gunpowder Plot 10km is a 2 lap route around York Knavesmire racecourse, overlooked by Terry's clock tower and the racecourse grandstands.

Jenn says: "I have nothing but the utmost respect for the strength that these women show as they battle to regain their sense of self as well as reconciling their roles as new mums. Recovery is hard, often unseen and rarely positively linear.

I cannot stress enough how in need we are for services and support to help those who experience serious trauma of this nature.

Thanks to Anna McClure who is hosting an amazing concert on Friday 25th October at St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen, in aid of APP!

Developed by Aberdeen-based performance artist Angela Margaret Main and composer Anna McClure, this special concert is partly based on the famous short story, 'The Yellow Wallpaper' written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 1892, which explores a woman’s struggle with Postpartum Psychosis. Anna has composed a new and original piece for this concert, The Yellow Wallpaper for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, percussion and piano with a performance piece by artist, Angela Margaret.

The concert also features works responding to other mental health conditions by Calum Carswell and Anna McClure. There will be a soundconversation with the composers after the performance as well as a short talk by APP's Sally Wilson!

The concert is taking place at Machar's Cathedral, The Chanonry, Old Aberdeen, AB24 1RQ, and you can purchase advance tickets here - £11 adult ticket, £6 conc and U18 & students go FREE. Find out more via the official Facebook event page here.

Thank you so much to Anna for organsing such an increbile event in aid of APP!

For this year's Royal Parks Half marathon we have four amazing runners taking part: Pete, Emma, Julie and Jessie!

All four are taking part in this year's half marathon, which takes place on Sunday 13th of October in central London. It takes in the capital’s world-famous landmarks on closed roads, and four of London’s eight Royal Parks – Hyde Park, The Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens - in all their autumnal glory!

Pete chose to support APP, "because when I was expecting my first child, my work colleague Rachel was also expecting in the same year. Rachel and I seemed to hit our big life events at the same time - marriage and children. My son was born in May and her son was born in December. Both heathy little lads but unfortunately Rachel was hit by Postpartum Psychosis soon after he was born. This really hit home for me and after seeing her recovery I could see the good work APP does."
Visit Pete's JustGiving page here.

Julie is supporting APP as she says, "For many women, the arrival of a baby is a real challenge but for some of them, like me, it can turn into the most traumatic and painful experience, leaving you feeling so ashamed, guilty, anxious and desperate that your mind makes you think that the only way out is to take your own life. I did not suffer from Postpartum Psychosis myself but experienced what we call postpartum depression. I was not diagnosed when I had my first baby, if I had, I would not have had to go through a much more severe depression with the arrival of my second baby, my beautiful little girl. Thank God, I asked for help and was finally hospitalised for 3 long months. It was hard to be away from my family. I had to remind myself everyday that it was for the best that I was not with my little baby girl, that I was missing all these moments in her brand new life but yes, it was ! I fought really hard, I took medication, spoke to a psychiatrist on a daily basis and now look at me, a proud Mummy of two, running a half marathon ! Never felt so good before in my life: all this work was worth it! Please donate to this charity so women like me can be brought back to life and enjoy fully the wonderful gift of love and motherhood."
Visit Julie's VirginMoneyGiving page here.

Jessie is supporting APP because "APP has helped me over the past 6 years in my recovery from Postpartum Psychosis, a severe but treatable mental illness experienced a few weeks after having a baby." and says "I have been training hard for race day - from barely being able to run up the stairs to 13.1 miles - it has been quite a feat! But knowing that I am raising awareness of Postpartum Psychosis and money for APP has kept me going."
Visit Jessie's JustGiving page here.

Emma chose to support APP through finding out about PP in her work as a Consultant and Practitioner Psychologist at Jigsaw Clinic London.
Visit Emma's JustGiving page here.

Please support our 'fab four' and donate what you can via their online donation pages!

With huge thanks to Pete, Emma Julie and Jessie for all their hard work - we wish them all the best with their training and hope they have lots of autumn sunshine on 13th October!