When Emily laces up her shoes and heads out for a run, it’s not just about fitness, it’s about finding peace, balance, and purpose.
Emily has lived with chronic major depressive disorder since she was fifteen. “Without medication, I’m pretty non-functional,” she says. “Counselling, especially CBT, has been another really important part of my wellbeing. And about ten years ago, I added running into the mix.”
Running, for Emily, has become a form of therapy. “I never want to go, I dread it every time, but I treat it like medicine, and I never regret it once I’m out there. Around the 5–6 km mark, when the endorphins kick in, I start noticing the sounds of birds, the flowers, the trees, all the small, beautiful things I might otherwise miss.”
As a teacher, Emily has spent nearly twenty years working with adolescents. She’s seen firsthand how common mental health struggles can be, and how hard it can be for young people to access support. “When I was fifteen, I was lucky, my whānau could afford therapy. Not everyone has that privilege, and that’s why I wanted to support Te Tahi Youth. I love that they provide a safe, welcoming space where young people can get the help they need.”
Emily originally set a goal to raise $1,000, enough to fund 14 counselling sessions. She quickly surpassed it, then reset to $2,100 (30 sessions). Now, she’s aiming to hit $2,800 – enough to fund 40 sessions for young people in need.
“I’m not a typical ‘runner build,’ and I’m definitely not fast,” she laughs. “Between managing depression, epilepsy, and medication fatigue, there have been some tired days, and a few extra naps! But knowing people are relying on me keeps me going.”
Her message is simple but powerful: mental health is health.
“If you break a leg, no one expects you to just wait for it to heal, you get it treated. We need to see mental health the same way. Seeking help isn’t a weakness; it’s part of taking care of yourself.”
What Emily is doing will quite literally change lives. Every dollar she raises helps keep Te Tahi Youth’s mental health services running, ensuring young people can get the help they need, when they need it.
But she’s also doing something just as important: spreading awareness. Many young people, parents, and whānau still don’t know that free, confidential support is available through Te Tahi Youth. By sharing her journey, Emily is helping us reach those who need it most.
If you’d like to support Emily’s marathon mission, or help us continue providing free counselling and wellbeing support for young people, you can donate here.