Sir Mo Farah joins London Marathon runners to help break down 'the wall'

Sir Mo Farah returned to the London Marathon on Sunday to help runners push through to the finish line.

The four-time Olympic champion holds the British record for the race, with a time of 2:06:21, but his target at the weekend was to help members of the general public to achieve their personal goals.

In partnership with Buxton Natural Mineral Water and national mental health charity Mind, Sir Mo joined runners along the Embankment at mile 24 as competitors hit "the wall", traditionally the most physically and mentally gruelling section of the race.

Sir Mo was on hand to offer encouragement and bottled water as thousands closed in on the finish line in the name of charity.

One runner, Jordan Adams, ran the course while carrying a fridge on his back to symbolise the invisible weight many people carry due to mental stress.

Sir Mo Farah said: “Running a marathon pushes you to your limits, not just physically but mentally too.

We all hit that point where the head tells the legs to stop, but that is exactly when you have to dig deep.

Everyone’s always got more than they think they’ve got, whether it’s one more step, or one more mile.

"As an elite athlete, I’ve always had a team pushing me and a crowd cheering me on.

But for many, it can feel like a lonely battle.

I’m proud to be back on this course with Buxton and Mind to show that no one should have to face their challenges alone.

Sometimes a few words of encouragement or a simple moment of connection makes all the difference.”
Sir Mo's helping hand along the route was part of Buxton and Mind's collaboration, which sees the former donate £500,000 over three years to "help significantly increase access to vital mental health support services across the UK."