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Team Lightning take on Run or Dye near Tonbridge in memory of Alex Wheeler, a former Borden Grammar Pupil from Sittingbourne

A group of women completed a fundraising run to raise more than £1,200 for a mental health charity.

Team Lightning was started by Lisa Slender, a colleague of Suzanne Middleton-Elliott whose son Alex Wheeler took his own life just before his 22nd birthday after a secret battle with depression.

The former Borden Grammar pupil died in November last year and Suzanne, of Ruins Barn Road, Sittingbourne, decided to turn her son’s death into something positive.

Team Lightning, running in memory of Alex Wheeler and in aid of Mind
Team Lightning, running in memory of Alex Wheeler and in aid of Mind

To raise funds for Mind, which supports people with mental heatlh problems, she and a group of friends tackled the Run or Dye course at Penshurst Place near Tonbridge at the weekend.

The 49-year-old said: “I’ve been running since I’ve been off on a weekly basis with some work colleagues.

“They asked me to come along to get me out of the house and back in February one of them suggested we do something as a challenge so we entered a team.

Some of Team Lightning
Some of Team Lightning

“Eight of us ran and it was horrible, it was very hot and sweaty and very hilly, but we crossed the finishing line together.

“We’re called Team Lightning ironically because we’re so slow.”

Suzanne has been working with schools and charities to deliver mental health awareness training for teachers to help prevent other families going through similar situations, as suicide is the biggest killer of men under 25.

Alex Wheeler
Alex Wheeler

Run or Dye was Suzanne’s first sporting challenge and featured a 5km course where participants were coated in coloured powdered paint along the way.

“I just didn’t want to stop because if you do, it’s hard to start again,” said Suzanne, an insurance team leader.

“I’ve also entered the ballot for the London Marathon but I’m so regretting it now.”

So far Team Lightning has raised £1,245.69 for Mind. To support them, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/SuzanneMiddletonElliott

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