Bipolar Sussex Police trainer walks 100km for Samaritans as a thank you for saving her life

A bipolar Sussex Police trainer whose life was saved by Samaritans has done her own South Coast Challenge to raise money for the charity as a thank you.
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Ellen Thomas, 25, was due to take part in the 2020 ultra challenge over the South Downs and when the main event was cancelled, decided to go ahead anyway, walking the 100km on her own.

Along the way, she was supported by her dad David, an ultra marathon runner, and friends, who joined along the way.

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Ellen has worked for Sussex Police for four years, training contact handlers, and loves her job but she had to be signed off for three months as she battled with her mental health.

Elllen Thomas did her own South Coast Challenge after the main event was cancelledElllen Thomas did her own South Coast Challenge after the main event was cancelled
Elllen Thomas did her own South Coast Challenge after the main event was cancelled

Ellen said: “I have got bipolar, which was diagnosed in January. I have always been quite open about my mental health and I am not ashamed of it. Talking about it helps me, it is a therapy for me.

“I’ve had a rough couple of years. It’s a constant fight and I, at times, feel completely fed up. It’s been a close call at times. But, here I stand, putting one foot in front of the other, consistently. That’s what I have decided to do and I wanted to do it properly, but not metaphorically this time.

“We decided to walk along the coast, from Hastings Pier to Littlehampton Pier. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. It was a slog because there was no-one else doing it.”

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Ellen said it was particularly emotional going over Beachy Head, thinking of friends who have taken their own lives.

Ellen Thomas and supporters on Worthing seafrontEllen Thomas and supporters on Worthing seafront
Ellen Thomas and supporters on Worthing seafront

She said: “I put one foot in front of the other, powered by the lifesavers at the Samaritans.

“I have always been really passionate about the work that the Samaritans do and have raised money for them in the past. However, this time it was personal.

“Things hit an all-time low last year for me and I, unfortunately, had to call on the Samaritans on a particularly hard night. The soft anonymous and female voice spoke to me, spoke to me for 13 minutes and to all sense and purposes, saved my life. I owe her.”

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Ellen had hoped to complete the walk in 30 hours and managed it in 26, starting in Hastings at 6am and arriving in Littlehampton at 8am the following morning.

During the walk, Ellen used social media to raise awareness of her walk and saw donations go from just over £1,000 to more than £3,000 - five times what she had hoped to raise.

Ellen has recently moved from Littlehampton to Lewes, to be nearer her work. She writes a blog about mental health at ellenontheedge.home.blog and can be found on Facebook at Ellen on the Edge

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She said: “For those of you suffering quietly or in silence, we are all in this together. And if you are struggling, please know that the Samaritans are the ones at the end of the line, more often than not - stopping people from falling off the edge. They can help you.”

If you are affected by any issues raised in this story, contact Samaritans for confidential support on 116 123.

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