Hi there. My name is Neil Neil Mankey. I took part in the Jurassic Coast Ultra Challenge in May this year, which was a 100 kilometers nonstop down in Dorset. And it was absolutely stunning for the first few hours. And then hour twenty three, twenty four, you'd kind of been going nonstop apart from, you know, some some rest breaks and refueling, etcetera. You're kind of mentally having to remind yourself why you're doing it. So I ended up raising just shy of £2,000 for ADHD UK, and my reasons were purely because I was diagnosed with ADHD, well, major depressive disorder comorbid with ADHD of the combined type in February 2020, so just before lockdown. I remember now getting the diagnosis. I went private in Harley Street and.

The relief was quite palpable, to be honest with you. Just walking out of the clinic, like, a bit weight kinda coming off my shoulders. Because just started answering so many questions just as soon as I kind of found out. It was like, right, okay. So I can start piecing lots of different aspects of my life together, both kind of childhood and and and more so with some of the mental health issues I've I've kind of struggled with in my adult life. You know, I'm in my mid-40s now, prior to my diagnosis, I'd been on antidepressants for a number of years because I suffered from anxiety and depression. I kind of look back now and realize that a lot of what I was going through.

You know, was was because of a lack of understanding of what was going up in in here. So I was working against it. Whereas now, I kind of know why I am the way I am, and why I think the way I think, and behave the way I behave, etcetera, etcetera. And I can start working with it. So it certainly helps. There's no doubt about it, the diagnosis. One thing that has been really obvious for me is I've had to make some changes with my lifestyle, with my relationship with alcohol, which is no longer a relationship. So don't drink. Haven't drunk now for, let's say, for eighteen months, which has been great. The difference in cutting that out, because I have a very addictive personality, has meant that I've been able to.

Have more time and energy to really focus on other aspects of my life. So getting in a routine, exercise, meditation, healthy eating, all of the things which we kind of all know are good for us, regardless of whether you're neurodiverse or neurotypical, but don't always necessarily follow. So for me, it's great. It's been great to understand. It's been great to be part of the journey for the charity and the charity you're on, working with Henry and the team to really drive our mission and really open up awareness of ADHD more so in the corporate world. Because as I said earlier, I struggle with work due to my mental health, due to my ADHD and my different ways, which haven't always been understood and been very misunderstood. But now I am.

Seeing there's this positive change in the workplace for a lot of organizations and for a lot of individuals, which is still not enough. I think we still have a long way to go, which is why it's really, really, really important that we can raise as much awareness, support, advocacy, research, etc. Into ADHD from the bottom up. So from schooling right up to organisational level in terms of what businesses are doing to ensure people like me that are neurodiverse have a platform where they can thrive, and don't always necessarily.

Relate to the norm, if that makes sense. So, yeah, I'll be continuing to to drive awareness to hopefully raise more funds for for for this charity, is very close to my heart, and hope hope you're all inspired to do the same. Thank you.