Andy's Man Club

Mike's page

Mike Sealey

Mike Sealey

My Story

I've been selected to run the 2026 London Marathon for Andy's Man Club

After watching a friend and fellow AMC facilitator run the 2025 London Marathon, I felt incredibly inspired by his effort. When I heard that AMC were offering spots in 2026 I got a rush of blood to the head and decided that I should apply.

Obviously, it's a huge undertaking, not only the 26.2 miles on the day, but the time and effort in training that leads up to that day. I did what I always do when it comes to big decisions likes this; consulted my wife. 

Natalie is a steadying influence and a fantastic guide through life. I went into the conversation fully expecting her to talk me out of this silly idea. Get a grip, there's no way you could run a marathon, I expected her to say, and then I'd be off the hook.

Instead, she was incredibly supportive (as always) and encouraged me to apply. Well, there's still a chance I wont get in... There's a wild dichotomy of "I'd love to run a marathon" and "Oh no, I've got to run a marathon". Sure enough, I was selected to run on behalf of Andy's Man Club, and here we are.

I've poured over the official 16-week training plan, and decided to do every week twice (apart from the final week) to make a 31 week training plan, starting in mid-September.

What Is Andy's Man Club?

ANDYSMANCLUB is a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online. We want to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and help men through the power of conversation.

Why I'm Running

Back in 2022 I was in an exceptionally dark place, working a thankless and dead-end job through the pandemic had driven me to a deep depression. Facing reccuring complications of a congenital skin condition https://www.caringmattersnow.co.uk/about-cmn/what-is-congenital-melanocytic-naevus/ only exacerbated the situation. 

I found myself in a constant state of despair, and after being signed off work, Natalie finally managed to persuade me to attend Andy's Man Club Wrexham (at the time, the only club in North Wales). 

What followed was the opening of floodgates, everything I'd spent months, in some cases years, holding in, came pouring out. Ugly, screechy, cathartic, snot-bubble crying.

In the spring of 2023 I was invited by the team at AMC Wrexham to become a facilitator, having been judged to have made enough progress in my own journey to be able to give back, and help other group members.

In April of 2024 myself and two of my colleages, Spencer and Sam, were delighted to be able to open a new group in Deeside, welcoming 14 men of Deeside and surrounding areas on the first night. We have since grown AMC Deeside successfully into a very strong group, even after sending 3 facilitators off to open Chester we still see 30+ men each week.

One of the overall aims of Andy's Man Club is to have a group within 20 minutes' travel of everyone in the UK, in order to reach #ThatOneMan who needs it.

Please give within your means

Ultimately, I'm running this marathon in order to raise funds for AMC, but it all boils down to being able to help those who need it. If you are able to, please donate, but if you are unable to do so, please share the message far and wide. If by sharing this page, signposting someone to AMC, or even just starting a conversation, one more person attends a group, it will all have been worth it for #ThatOneMan.

Andy's Man Club

Raising for:

Andy's Man Club
137%

Funded

  • Target
    £2,500
  • Raised so far
    £3,414
  • Number of donors
    45

My Story

I've been selected to run the 2026 London Marathon for Andy's Man Club

After watching a friend and fellow AMC facilitator run the 2025 London Marathon, I felt incredibly inspired by his effort. When I heard that AMC were offering spots in 2026 I got a rush of blood to the head and decided that I should apply.

Obviously, it's a huge undertaking, not only the 26.2 miles on the day, but the time and effort in training that leads up to that day. I did what I always do when it comes to big decisions likes this; consulted my wife. 

Natalie is a steadying influence and a fantastic guide through life. I went into the conversation fully expecting her to talk me out of this silly idea. Get a grip, there's no way you could run a marathon, I expected her to say, and then I'd be off the hook.

Instead, she was incredibly supportive (as always) and encouraged me to apply. Well, there's still a chance I wont get in... There's a wild dichotomy of "I'd love to run a marathon" and "Oh no, I've got to run a marathon". Sure enough, I was selected to run on behalf of Andy's Man Club, and here we are.

I've poured over the official 16-week training plan, and decided to do every week twice (apart from the final week) to make a 31 week training plan, starting in mid-September.

What Is Andy's Man Club?

ANDYSMANCLUB is a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online. We want to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and help men through the power of conversation.

Why I'm Running

Back in 2022 I was in an exceptionally dark place, working a thankless and dead-end job through the pandemic had driven me to a deep depression. Facing reccuring complications of a congenital skin condition https://www.caringmattersnow.co.uk/about-cmn/what-is-congenital-melanocytic-naevus/ only exacerbated the situation. 

I found myself in a constant state of despair, and after being signed off work, Natalie finally managed to persuade me to attend Andy's Man Club Wrexham (at the time, the only club in North Wales). 

What followed was the opening of floodgates, everything I'd spent months, in some cases years, holding in, came pouring out. Ugly, screechy, cathartic, snot-bubble crying.

In the spring of 2023 I was invited by the team at AMC Wrexham to become a facilitator, having been judged to have made enough progress in my own journey to be able to give back, and help other group members.

In April of 2024 myself and two of my colleages, Spencer and Sam, were delighted to be able to open a new group in Deeside, welcoming 14 men of Deeside and surrounding areas on the first night. We have since grown AMC Deeside successfully into a very strong group, even after sending 3 facilitators off to open Chester we still see 30+ men each week.

One of the overall aims of Andy's Man Club is to have a group within 20 minutes' travel of everyone in the UK, in order to reach #ThatOneMan who needs it.

Please give within your means

Ultimately, I'm running this marathon in order to raise funds for AMC, but it all boils down to being able to help those who need it. If you are able to, please donate, but if you are unable to do so, please share the message far and wide. If by sharing this page, signposting someone to AMC, or even just starting a conversation, one more person attends a group, it will all have been worth it for #ThatOneMan.