A 35-year-old mother who has suffered from depression and Bipolar disorder is aiming to achieve a new Guinness World Record in hopes to inspire other people with mental health issues nationwide.
Yvie Johnson or Denbigh, Wales, is currently training to run from Land’s End to John O’Groats and back again, to prove to herself and others that she “is still capable of achieving something extraordinary,” Ms Johnson said.
The mammoth trek clocks in at approximately 1,686 miles and, if achieved, would set a new Guinness World Record for the dedicated runner and former police officer.
Ms Johnson is no stranger to overcoming great challenges. The 35-year-old has battled depression and Bipolar disorder, and the former police officer, who has always been a keen runner and sportswoman, admitted her struggles have changed her life and lead to a number of ‘self-imposed’ limitations.
However, Ms Johnson stands strong, and is relishing the chance to set a World Record.
“It is like a pilgrimage, it is to prove to myself that I am capable of doing something extraordinary and I don’t have to undervalue myself, because I have this to deal with.
“There are other people who will be looking to this thinking the same, that they are in the same boat, that they are holding themselves back.
“There is no record at the moment, I am setting it and I will have set it for mental health, to show that even if you have got an illness you can still set a world record.”