Etherington-Judge urges trade to change mental health conversation

Healthy Hospo founder Tim Etherington-Judge is urging trade members to “change the conversation” surrounding mental health issues in the drinks industry as he prepares to tackle 42 marathons in 42 days for charity.

Tim Etherington-Judge has been training for the past six months to run 42 marathons in 42 days, at age 42

Etherington-Judge survived a suicide attempt in 2016 after suffering a breakdown “caused by a toxically unhealthy lifestyle” and a lifelong battle with depression.

He said he was “lucky to be here” and now wants to “take on a life-changing challenge to inspire others to take action to improve their own mental health”.

As part of his endeavours and to celebrate turning 42 earlier this year, Etherington-Judge pledged to run 42 marathons in 42 days, aged 42 years old, beginning on 20 July at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, US. He will run subsequent marathons in New York, Amsterdam, and finish in the UK on 30 August in London.

In the lead-up to his marathon feat, Etherington-Judge is urging the industry to face issues of mental health “head on”.

“We need to challenge the issues head on and begin to change the conversation if we’re going to tackle the growing rates of mental health problems, suicide, substance abuse and burnout,” he said. “After surviving a suicide attempt in 2016 I’m lucky to be here, and I wanted to take on a life-changing challenge to inspire others to take action to improve their own mental health and to raise money for projects to improve mental health for all of us in the hospitality industry.

“I’m hugely grateful to colleagues who will be travelling from as far afield as New Zealand, India and Canada to run with me. If you fancy joining me for part of my run I would love you to.

“I’ve been training for six months to get to this point and couldn’t have got this far without the support of my sponsors, On Running, Patagonia and Stance, who are donating shoes, technical clothing, as well as the best running store in the world: Run & Become in Victoria.”

Etherington-Judge is asking drinks trade professionals to support his Run424242 effort by joining him for part of his runs, helping to fundraise and collect donations, by sponsoring him, cheering him along the way and sharing his challenge on social media.

All money raised through Run424242 will be donated to UK drinks charity The Benevolent to support projects directly related to mental health within the industry. Etherington-Judge has set himself a target to raise £42,000 (US$53,110).

To donate, visit www.kindlink.com/charity/the-benevolent/1477/fundraising.