Running for Rob

On Sunday 6 October 2024, OV Ed Price (Os 11-18 and Old St Alban’s) will be donning his running shoes to take part in the Chester Marathon.

Ed is running to raise funds for the mental health charity, MIND, in memory of his good friend and OV Robin Willis (K 11-18).

Speaking of this challenge, Ed said, “This October I will be running the Chester Marathon in support of the MIND mental health charity.

“The reason for that particular marathon is that October was the month of Robin Willis’, one of the greatest friends I’ve ever had, birthday. I would have loved nothing more than to be running it with him, and, in a way, I will be as I know he’ll be looking down and driving me on. At the start of this year Robin lost his battle with his mental health, so I will be pushing myself to help a charity that may help someone else down the line.

“This post could be pages long and it wouldn’t be enough to encapsulate how devastated I was to lose a friend so close. Robin was more than a friend; he was one of the best friends I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. With a near constant smile and loud laugh Robin could improve and brighten any day of any person he came in contact with. Rob was the reason I went to the university I went to, Bath Spa University, we call ourselves Bonnie and Clyde (never settled on who was who), played rugby together from the age of 11 all over the world from Swansea to Sri Lanka. At Christmas we made plans to meet up at the Bath Half Marathon and go for food, but sadly for reasons only Rob will ever know, we were never able to see each other. Therefore, to honour a genuinely good person with a good heart and soul who suffered in silence until he made the ultimate choice, I will be pushing myself to run Chester Marathon on October 6th.

“I hope that me running this can help spread awareness for mental health, and even now as I write this with a lump in my throat I encourage and urge everyone to reach out to your friends and family to simply check in. If you are struggling with your mental help please don’t suffer in silence, your feelings of sadness are only half the feelings of eagerness to see you for dinner a friend has. My deepest regret in life is not telling him more often how much I appreciated and loved him as a friend and as a brother. So, Rob and I will be running October 6th and if I feel as if I’m flagging, I have no doubt Rob will be able to lift my mood as he always did.

“Thank you for taking the time to read this; I am extremely grateful, and I hope that this can help someone, anyone, in the future.”

If you would like to know more about Ed’s marathon and fundraising, please contact the Alumni office via alumni@ksw.org.uk