A Stone based hospitality worker is preparing to take on the London Marathon to raise money for a charity supporting mental health in the industry.
Anthony O’Brien, who lives in Stone and works at The Upper House in Barlaston, will run the marathon in support of The Burnt Chef Project, a charity that works with hospitality professionals affected by mental health challenges.
For Anthony, the challenge is a personal one. The London Marathon will be double the distance he has ever run before, and he says the cause is one that has played a vital role in his own life.
Supporting mental health in hospitality
The Burnt Chef Project focuses on mental health awareness and support within the hospitality sector, an industry known for long hours, high pressure environments and limited access to wellbeing support.
According to the charity, four out of five hospitality professionals report experiencing at least one mental health issue during their career. Chronic stress, stigma and a lack of accessible support remain common across the industry, and in the most serious cases this can lead to loss of life. Hospitality continues to have one of the highest suicide rates compared with other professions.
Anthony said his fundraising is driven by lived experience.
“Working in the industry myself and having severely been affected by mental health, without people like these I would not be here myself,” he said.
He added that the charity works directly with people in the industry, offering support free of charge or at a cost that is manageable for the individual.
A challenge with a clear goal
Anthony is asking the local community to help him reach his fundraising target, no matter how small the contribution.
“Even if it’s a pound it’s more than if I didn’t,” he said.
“Asking you all again, dig deep and push me over the line of what is a massive challenge. Expect tears.”
He will be running the London Marathon to raise funds that help The Burnt Chef Project continue its work supporting hospitality workers across the UK.
How to support
Donations can be made through Anthony’s fundraising page, which is raising money directly for The Burnt Chef Project – https://fundraise.theburntchefproject.com/fundraisers/anthonyobrien/london-marathon
The London Marathon is one of the world’s largest mass participation sporting events, and Anthony will be one of thousands of runners taking on the 26.2 mile course.
For Stone residents, he hopes the support of the local community will help carry him through what he describes as the biggest physical challenge he has ever taken on.
