Northampton psychologist and pet pooch Rocky aiming to run 1,000 miles in 2021 for Cancer Research UK

A Northampton clinical psychologist has challenged herself to run 1,000 miles in 2021 alongside her ‘hyperactive’ pet pooch, Rocky.

Dr Helen Fletcher, who works with children with learning difficulties and their families, firmly believes that exercise is hugely beneficial for mental health, so is leading my example in a bid to encourage others to follow suit.

The 43-year-old ran 100 miles in three weeks during the first lockdown and managed to raise £1,000 for Cancer Research UK after she saw first hand how the pandemic has affected cancer patients, when her cousin was diagnosed last year.

With this year’s bigger and longer challenge, Helen, alongside her 17-month-old Plummer Terrier, Rocky, hopes to raise more vital funds for the charity.

Helen, who lives in Cogenhoe, said: “Lockdown is tough for people’s mental health and personally I need to do something to get myself through this, to get up in the morning and to feel inspired.

“This is a long haul and we have got to keep going.

“I firmly believe that an exercise routine is key. It doesn’t have to be running, I know that’s extreme, it can just be going out to play Pokémon Go.

“I have two teenagers and it’s sometimes a struggle to get them out, but when I do I notice the difference as they talk to me more.”

Helen would advise everyone to find a focus of some description to get through this lockdown and keep on top of their own mental health, whether that is walking or something like jigsaw puzzles.

For her it is running, and she is aiming to run between 20 and 25 miles a week, so she can clock up around 100 miles a month, leaving her some leeway to complete the year-long challenge, in case of injury, self-isolation or other breaks.

So far, her and Rocky have already completed 31 miles on routes around Cogenhoe, but when the weather improves Helen is looking forward to running through fields.

She added: “I’m loving it as it’s my time to switch off. I don’t listen to music or anything, I just think.

“It’s great to go out in the morning as well as for the rest of the day I’m sitting down working from home.

“It starts my day off in a refreshing way.”

Helen is blogging about her running challenge, which can be found here and donations can be made on her JustGiving page.

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