Suzanne Shaw has spoken of her elation after crossing the finish line following an after running through the night during an incredible 19 hour charity marathon.
A video exclusively obtained by MailOnline shows the former Hear’Say star completing the gruelling challenge on Wednesday afternoon.
The clip shows the sweet moment Suzanne is reunited with her fiance Sam Greenfield, 38, and her sons Corey, 16, and Rafferty, five.
Congratulations: Suzanne Shaw has spoken of her elation after crossing the finish line following an after running through the night during an incredible 19 hour charity marathon
Suzanne completed the staggering run without stopping, raising more than £8,000 for Samaritans, which is a charity supporting people struggling with mental health.
After struggling with her own mental health for decades Suzanne committed herself to raising awareness of the importance of looking after mental health.
Suzanne started her challenge at 10pm on Tuesday 18 May at Raccoon Events HQ in Guildford, Surrey alongside CEO Mike Seaman and completed the challenge at Virginia Water at 5pm, having completed over 60 miles during their run.
Aw! Sweet images show the moment Suzanne was reunited with her family at the finish line
All smiles: Suzanne appeared in high spirits following her run
Nineteen! The star posed with balloons which said ’19’ to represent the amount of hours she had spent running
Following the run, elated Suzanne said: ‘It hasn’t really sunk in yet that it is over! Just three months ago I hadn’t run more than a few hours, so I am over the moon to have completed such a huge personal challenge whilst raising vital money and awareness of the issues facing people’s current state of mental health.
‘Being part of the running community has been an incredible bonus to taking on this challenge.
‘Runners coming out to support runners without any agenda or expectation, just running because they love running and trying to bring out the best in other people, it really is a special community and I am very grateful for everyone’s support.’
All smiles: Suzanne completed the staggering run without stopping, raising more than £8,000 for Samaritans, which is a charity supporting people struggling with mental health
Raising awareness: After struggling with her own mental health for decades Suzanne committed herself to raising awareness of the importance of looking after mental health
Aw: A video exclusively obtained by MailOnline shows the former Hear’Say star completing the gruelling challenge on Wednesday afternoon
Well done: The clip shows the sweet moment Suzanne is reunited with her fiance Sam Greenfield and her sons Corey, 16, and Rafferty, five
Here she is: The clip showed the moment Suzanne crossed the finish line
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Mike Seaman commented: ‘Suzi has achieved such a huge amount in the last 19 hours, not only the phenomenal amount of money she has raised for such an incredible cause, but she has surpassed even her own expectations of what she was able to achieve which I am honoured to have been a part of.
‘At The National Running Show community is key and to be able to get out and put that into practice is what it is all about.’
Suzanne shared updates from her ultra marathon on her social media.
The mother-of-two recently spoke about how she has struggled with her mental health for nearly two decades in March.
Running! Suzanne shared updates from her ultra marathon as she ran through the night
Before kicking off her run on Tuesday evening, Suzanne took to her Stories just before heading out on the marathon as well as posting updates every hour.
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The singer was sporting a pink jacket and leggings with her running shoes and a backpack.
Suzanne has already raised more than £5,000 for the charity even before completing the mammoth challenge.
Keep going: Suzanne embarked on 19-hour run to raise money for the charity after recently opening up about her experience with depression
The run comes after Emmerdale star Suzanne revealed her struggles with depression and anxiety.
Speaking in a recent issue of Runner’s World, she said that she only recently opened up about it because she ‘wanted things to change’.
‘I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety for more than 18 years,’ she explained. ‘But it was only recently that I felt ready to open up about it because I wanted things to change.
Open: The mother-of-two recently spoke about how she has struggled with her mental health for nearly two decades in March
Updates: Before kicking off her run at 10pm on Tuesday evening, Suzanne took to her Stories just before heading out on the marathon as well as posting updates every hour
‘For years, I had been hoping my mental health issues would just go away, but it never happened; instead, I was having more dark days.’
The singer and actress has turned to running as a form of therapy.
‘I now need to run at least three times a week or it feels as if I am missing my therapy,’ she shared. ‘I love it, as it gives me the headspace to deal with what is happening in my life.
‘Since turning to a plant-based diet, daily meditation and a more mindful approach to life, I feel so full of energy. I only wish I had discovered running sooner.’
![She explained: 'When I found instant stardom with Hear'Say, I had a good base level of fitness, thanks to all my dancing and gym sessions [pictured with her bandmates Noel Sullivan, Kym Marsh, Myleene Klass, and Danny Foster in 2001]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/03/02/12/39945592-9316437-image-a-17_1614687378843.jpg)
She explained: ‘When I found instant stardom with Hear’Say, I had a good base level of fitness, thanks to all my dancing and gym sessions [pictured with her bandmates Noel Sullivan, Kym Marsh, Myleene Klass, and Danny Foster in 2001]
Suzanne explained that being in a soap left her little time to keep on top of her fitness regime, while being in pop group Hear’Say, with the likes of Kym Marsh and Myleene Klass, allowed her the time to keep healthy.
‘When I found instant stardom with Hear’Say, I had a good base level of fitness, thanks to all my dancing and gym sessions,’ she explained. ‘We must have been the fittest group about, as we were always working out for shows and tours.
‘Back then, fitness wasn’t something I enjoyed but what I did to do my job.
No time: Suzanne explained that being in a soap left her little time to keep on top of her fitness regime
‘When I joined the cast of Emmerdale, my fitness really began to slide. I piled on weight because there’s lots of sitting around and eating biscuits between scenes.
‘Before then, I was dancing in a pop group or appearing in West End shows, not just saying my lines.
‘I gave up alcohol for a year after I had developed an unhealthy relationship with it. Along with eating rubbish and hiding away when I was anxious, I would turn to drink as a quick fix.
‘I became an ambassador for One Year No Beer, where there is a supportive community while you are on its programme. Not only do I now not have hangovers, I also don’t have the self-loathing I had before.’
Hear’Say formed on talent show Popstars, in 2000, but they split in 2002 when Suzanne was only 21.
She featured on the third series of Dancing On Ice in 2008, winning the show. She joined Emmerdale in 2010 but only appeared on the series for a year.
Suzanne welcomed a son with Darren Day in 2004 but split from Darren eventually. She was married to DJ Jason King from 2009 – 2012.
In 2015 she welcomed her second son, this time with fiancé Sam Greenfield.
Source: Daily Mail
