RCVS President Professor Stuart Reid will be running the London Marathon in April for charity

President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and Principal of the Royal Veterinary College, Professor Stuart Reid, is running the Virgin Money London Marathon on 26 April, in aid of the RVC Animal Care Trust, the Veterinary Benevolent Fund and Mind.

The RVC Animal Care Trust will use the funds to assist the student bodies at all of the UK veterinary schools; the VBF, through Vetlife, the Vet Helpline and the Veterinary Surgeons' Health Support Programme, offers specific assistance to members of the veterinary team; and Mind has been working with the profession and the veterinary schools at all levels in developing approaches to mental health and wellbeing.

"As President of the RCVS and Principal of the RVC I feel that I am in a privileged position and I would like to take every opportunity to help break down the stigma associated with mental health and wellbeing, and to raise what I can to assist these three excellent charities in dealing with what is, sadly, a major issue for us," says Stuart.

"Most of all, I am doing it for the nine people I know personally who are no longer with us, and the many more who have found, and will find, help in time," he adds.

To help Stuart meet his sponsorship target of £10,000, please support him via uk.virginmoneygiving.com/StuartReid.