Chris visited his old school during day five, covering a route that started in Gloucestershire and ending in London with the London Marathon while raising money for Samaritans.

'I lost a friend to suicide just over a year ago,' he told students gathered in the Chapel. 'Like a lot of people who've experienced grief, I felt frustrated and angry, and I wanted to do something that might help others.'

His choice of Samaritans was deliberate as it is a charity he believes fills genuine gaps in mental health provision, working specifically in suicide prevention – especially for men. He had a direct message for Reading School students. Recognise when help is needed, build the habit of asking for help, and learn to have honest conversations about mental health, all things best practised early.

'Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness,' he said. 'And kindness to each other matters more than we sometimes acknowledge. We can become so focused on performance and results, on how we compare to others, that we lose sight of a simpler question: are you doing better today than yesterday? And if not, that's all right too.'

That idea, of measuring progress against one's own baseline rather than someone else's, ran through everything Chris shared during his visit. He was frank about how difficult performance culture makes this, in schools, in workplaces, across adult life, and about the quiet toll that can take on mental wellbeing.

Following the talk, Chris set off for Day 5 of his runs with students running alongside him and forming a guard of honour in order to cheer him on.

If you or someone you know needs support, Samaritans are available around the clock on 116 123, or online.