My Battle for Mental Health, Rome to Home Ultra – Dan Keeley

In 2012, after 6 months of pushing his mind to the limit and a full-scale psychotic episode in Italy, Dan Keeley was hospitalised, diagnosed with bipolar disorder and facing a crippling battle with depression which put his life at risk. 5 years on, after a powerful journey of recovery, Dan ran 1250-miles in 65-days (solo & self-supported) from the Colosseum in Rome back to the London Eye to celebrate his recovery on a massive scale. We sat down with Dan to tell us more.

I truly believe in the power of storytelling and I encourage everyone to look around them for the support we’re all surrounded by when we’re struggling. Too many people are suffering in silence and it doesn’t have to be this way; and the more we can create safe and stigma-free spaces to have courageous conversations, the sooner we’ll live in a world where we all feel empowered to speak up when we’re suffering.

In the summer of 2012, I found myself in the middle of a motor way in Italy, during rush hour traffic.  My mind was racing at 300 mph, and the irony of that was not lost on me, whilst trying to force the rest of the world to slow down. I had been given an opportunity earlier in the year to work alongside a charity and we were helping to improve the lives of inner-city children through sport.  I had been giving my everything to my new role. Full of ideas and excitement, I just kept going and going! I hardly slept and scarcely ate as my body and mind lost the need to switch off or re fuel.