According to surveys conducted by health expert’s depression now effects 19% of the UK population. One former sufferer is Roseanne Lightfoot from Middlesbrough, who had been diagnosed eight years previous and was taking anti-depressants for treatment. Although the medication did help Roseanne continued to feel depressed, a normal day would consist of waking up to get her children ready for school followed by returning to bed until it was time to pick them up.
However one day her daughter mentioned that she was going to do the Albert Park run a free event situated in Middlesbrough run by volunteers where participants run 5 kilometres, intrigued by this Roseanne decided to accompany her to this event.
Roseanne was asked if she wanted to take part and after much hesitation decided to join in. The way she looked at the time played a big part in her depression and starting off Roseanne was always at the back of the group and she thought about giving up, however after three months people she had not seen for a while started to comment that she looked a lot healthier.
Spurred on by the positive comments of others, Roseanne decided to carry on and told her doctor that she wanted to come off anti-depressants as she felt she no longer needed them. This she believed was due to the positive effect running was having on her health and social life.
Things were going well and Roseanne was meeting lots of likeminded people. She and five other members from the Albert Park run decided to meet up on a Wednesday to gain more fitness in order to beat their personal best times on a Saturday. This was how Swift-Tees was created from eight original participants the group now has 300 members from all backgrounds, which has now raised over £10,000 for local charities and offers leadership in running qualifications (LIRF) through in partnership with Tees Valley Sport.