Recovering alcoholics from Leeds set to launch running club to help others beat addictions

Now the two friends want to launch a running club to help others overcome their addictions and improve their mental health.

Dean, 50, of Farnley and Jamie, 43, of Oulton, both volunteer to help recovering addicts get involved in running.

Dean started couch to 5k running sessions for people using rehabilitation service Growing Rooms at homeless charity St George's Crypt in Leeds.

And Jamie volunteers at Spacious Places in Leeds, where he runs couch to 5k sessions for people with drug and alcohol problems.

Dean and Jamie want to team up to form the Recovery Runners Running Club.

They launched a Recovery Runners Running Club Facebook page last week, which already has more than 130 members from Leeds and across the UK.

Dean, who is the chairman of South Leeds Lakers Running Club, said: "I know the benefits for my mental health after taking up running three years ago and I wanted to pass that on to others.

"We are trying to get a community of like minded people together through running.

"We are trying to get recovery based organisations around Leeds to join together to shine a light on Leeds and it's recovery and create a club and a community.

" Not just alcohol and drugs but mental health, suicide survivors, gambling, eating disorders etc.

"In the long run, we are hoping to spread this countrywide and beyond. For instance, if you go on holiday you can go on Facebook and find someone like minded in that area to run with and chat."

Dean, who works as a landscape gardener, said he started abusing alcohol in his early twenties in an attempt to deal with his mental health problems.

Dean said he also abused drugs, but it was alcohol, that he was unable to give up.

He was caught drink driving in January 2006 and found to be five times over the limit.

Dean said he tried to take his own life on three occasions in 2006 and was homeless for three months during that chaotic year.

On 13 November 2006 - after detoxing in hospital following his third suicide attempt - Dean said he went straight to a shop and bought a bottle of vodka, but was physically sick when he took a drink.

Dean said that was the last day he drank before he sought help and started on a 12 step programme, adding: "I just had an overwhelming feeling that I couldn't do it any more."

Dean said: "I don't have the need to drink anymore, but that doesn't stop my mental health from deteriorating. I sill suffer with mental health, I still suffer with depression."

Dean said his first run was the Temple Newsam 10 mile run in 2018.

He said: "It did wonders for my self worth and my self esteem, finishing something and getting a medal.

He lived in Beeston at the time and soon joined South Leeds Lakers running club, embracing both running and the social life at the club.

He is now the chairman of South Leeds Lakers and one of the club's mental health champions.

Dean has completed numerous 10K races and ran the Yorkshire Marathon in 2018 and the London Marathon in 2019.

He said: "Running is quite a cathartic thing for me. I run and I switch off. It has helped me massively.

"With the running club, the community that comes with that and the feeling of belonging, gives you self esteem and self worth with people wanting to know you."

Jamie, originally from Halton Moor, said he was an alcoholic for around 17 years and has been sober since since September 30 2015.

Jamie said he stopped drinking aged 37 after his doctor told him he would be dead within six months if he continued.

He started running five years ago and completed the London Marathon in 2019.

Jamie said: "When I am feeling a bit low and have had a bad day, I get myself out for a run and it just clears my head."

Jamie, who is a member of Rothwell Harriers running club, said he was helped by Spacious Places during his recovery and now volunteers once a week at the charity and runs couch to 5k sessions there.

Jamie, who works as a property developer, said: "We got our heads together and said 'why dont we form a running club?' It is overwhelming how fast it is going."

"We want to start up in Leeds and then go further afield, that's our plan."

for more information, search for Recovery Runners on Facebook, or email Dean Smith at [email protected] or Jamie Heselden at [email protected]