Frankie goes to headingley to support student minds charity

For Frankie Dennis there will be a mountain to climb after she crosses the finish line of the Leeds half marathon on Sunday, as later this year she’ll be attempting to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in a double charity challenge.

The 19 year old is on a mission to rise money for Student Minds, a Leeds based charity that supports students with their mental health. It’s a cause that means a huge amount to Frankie, who has faced her own struggles with mental health and has also seen many people of a similar age face similar battles.

Having endured a complicated relationship with food and exercise, she has recently discovered a passion for running, and the Leeds Half Marathon will be her biggest challenge to date.

It’s not just about the day of the event for Frankie. She says, “Training for this race has given me space to find calmness, reconnect with my body and mind, and feel strong again. A few years ago, when my relationship with food and exercise was at its worst, there’s no way my body or mind could have achieved what it can now. Running has become a reminder of how far I’ve come, both physically and mentally.”

When Frankie crosses the line on Sunday and stands on the summit of Kilimanjaro in August, she will have helped support the remarkable work that Student Minds undertake, and act as a reminder to students that help is always there for those who face challenges.

And for Frankie, she’ll be able to remind herself that no matter how difficult things have been, she is capable of achieving something very special.