Tenby’s Caroline Cumberlin has been amazed how many people have revealed they suffer with mental health issues since announcing she would be running the Lloyds Bank Cardiff Half Marathon to raise money for MIND.

The 13.1-mile race on October 4 will be the fourth run or ironman event the 44-year-old has competed in this year to raise money for the Pembrokeshire branch of MIND, a mental health charity.

It is an issue Caroline feels passionately about and she hopes to raise not just money but also awareness by taking part in Wales’ largest mass participation event, the Lloyds Bank Cardiff Half Marathon.

“I have run the Cardiff Half Marathon a couple of times before and it is a really lovely run,” she said.

“When I run, I always chose a charity which is close to my heart for one reason or another and MIND is certainly one of those.

“I know people who have suffered with mental health issues, and since I started raising money for MIND, it has been amazing how many people have supported me and openly disclosed they have suffered with issues like depression and anxiety so it has been a real eye-opener.

“I chose MIND because of experiences suffered by people I know and also just generally wanting to help people at the same time.

“We have also requested that the money raised would go towards a course run by the MIND centre in Pembrokeshire so the money raised should also help local people.”

Lloyds Bank is in its sixth year as proud title sponsor of the event in Wales with the Cardiff Half Marathon along with our other community programmes helping bring to life the bank’s continuing commitment to Helping Britain Prosper.

Well over 19,000 people regularly take part in the 10K and half marathon road races in Cardiff with one of Lloyds Bank’s aim to help encourage more people in sport.

Caroline has joined a number of people in Dan Mumford’s aptly-named group ‘Team Mumford and Runs’ as they attempt to help pay for a training course for staff at Pembrokeshire MIND team to become Mindfulness Practitioners.

The Lloyds Bank Cardiff Half Marathon will be the fourth and final event Caroline will be competing in during 2015 for MIND, having previously taken part in the Greater Manchester Marathon, Cotswold Ironman 70.3 and the The Long Course Weekend.

She is hoping to raise £500 for MIND, while also highlighting mental health issues as a whole, including the benefits provided by exercise.

Caroline, who works as an administrator for cancer charity Macmillan, added: “Mental health issues have been a taboo subject, but since I started my running and Ironman events I have become more aware of it and just how many people are affected.

“It is common for people to say ‘as long as you have your (physical) health everything will be fine,’ but issues such as depression and anxiety can be just as debilitating as physical problems.

“I have learned a lot in recent months and I have read that exercise helps with coping with mental health issues so I’m also hoping to raise awareness of those benefits too.”

Lloyds Bank is proud to continue its support of the Lloyds Bank Cardiff Half Marathon - Wales’ largest mass participation event. Entries are still available at: www.cardiffhalfmarathon.co.uk