A Wandsworth woman is preparing for the London Summer Walk Ultra Challenge this August in memory of her cousin Minnie, who died by suicide in 2023.
Ella Williams, 24, will walk 42km across the capital on 22 August to raise funds for Mind, determined to honour Minnie’s life and help prevent future losses.
Ella describes Minnie as “sunshine in a person” and someone who brought joy, silliness and warmth into every room she entered. Growing up, their families spent countless hours together, forming a bond Ella says shaped many of her happiest childhood memories.
“It’s hard to find the words to express quite how wonderful Minnie was,” Ella said, “She made the world a better, brighter place. Navigating life without her is immensely painful, but I’m so grateful for the years we had.”
As Minnie’s mental health deteriorated, Ella witnessed the profound impact of her illness. The bubbly, energetic cousin she adored began to shrink under the weight of her struggles. One of the last times Minnie stayed with her, Ella remembers feeling heartbroken at how much pain she was in and knew she needed more support than she was able to access.
Now a medical student, Ella has seen first‑hand the pressures facing NHS mental health services. She has deep respect for the staff who work tirelessly, but she also knows how stretched and underfunded the system has become.
“That’s where charities like Mind come in,” Ella explained, “They support people when life feels impossibly difficult, through helplines, crisis resources, community services, counselling, and campaigning for better policies and education.”
Ella has wanted to raise money for a mental health charity for a long time, having faced her own challenges and supported many loved ones through theirs. But losing Minnie made her realise she wanted to act sooner rather than later.
“There are no words to describe the pain of losing Minnie,” she said, “I hope raising money for Mind will help prevent future deaths by suicide and ensure people in the darkest places get the support they need.
“I saw a post recently that said suicide is a preventable cause of death and it really stuck with me. We weren’t able to prevent Minnie’s death, but I hope this walk will help prevent others. Minnie was one of the most kind, caring and considerate people I’ve ever known. I hope she’d be proud of me for doing this.”
Ella has already raised more than £1,500, to support her London Summer Walk challenge, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/ella-williams-1778707820757
Entries remain open for the London Summer Walk Ultra Challenge 2026 and 2027 sign-ups are now available. To take part, visit: www.ultrachallenge.com/london-summer-walk
