Illustration student runs 50-mile ultra marathon for women’s charity in Cornwall

Isabelle Beckett, a BA(Hons) Illustration student at Falmouth, is currently raising funds in support of The Women’s Centre Cornwall, a mental health charity that offers help for local women in need. After developing Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) as a result of not getting the support she needed while experiencing unresolved trauma, Isabelle is now making it her mission to raise awareness of the importance of seeking help when needed.  

To raise funds for the charity, Isabelle is running an impressive 50-mile ultra marathon across the coast of Southwest Cornwall on 15 February, a feat that will start just 20 miles from Falmouth in the local beauty spot of Helford, before making the journey to Kynance Cove and back again.  

Sharing with us her insight on the importance of wellbeing, Isabelle reflects on how living in Falmouth has supported her condition, how studying Illustration has improved her mental health and why she’s running in support of The Women’s Centre Cornwall.  

Can you tell us more about what inspired you to raise money in support of The Women's Centre Cornwall, and what it means to you to help raise awareness of the facilities available for those who need it? 

I was recently diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), and I knew I wanted to do something relating to it because of how little people have heard of the condition. I wanted to tackle the root issue of why I was diagnosed with it so that, hopefully, through campaigning and raising awareness, other people won’t end up in the same situation.  

My condition manifested because of unresolved trauma; my body had resulted in having episodes (such as paralysis and temporary blindness) to feel safe. This was because of a sexual assault I had experienced in my past. At the time, I wasn’t equipped with the right tools to get the help I desperately needed.  

When I discovered The Women’s Centre Cornwall, I already had all my help at home in the West Midlands. So, I wanted to raise awareness for young women and let them know there is help available, even if you are far from home as a student and aren’t sure what to do. You can pop in for a coffee, talk and decide next steps from there.  

The facilities available to young women in Cornwall are amazing, which I have seen through both the work of The Women’s Centre Cornwall and through Falmouth University. I do believe if I had been educated more on the help that’s available, I would have been able to get it sooner. In my case, what stopped me from getting help was the idea that my trauma wasn’t big enough. This is a massive problem in the process of getting help.