A MENTAL health nurse who saved a mum-of-one from a suicide is attempting to run five kilometres every day during November to raise money to fund therapeutic activities.

Joe Lewis, who is based at Glan Clwyd Hospital’s Ablett Psychiatric Unit, has been fitting in runs around 12-hours shift.

Money raised through his 150k challenge will help buy new equipment to support a varied programme of therapeutic activities, provided to patients by the Ablett Unit’s activity coordinators.

Joe hit the headlines in October for helping to save the life of Sue Rogers, 37, who was intent of ending her life when she made her way to a bridge over the A55 in July 2017.

The 25-year-old made his way through the queuing traffic and a police cordon to talk to Sue; his kindness gave her hope.

Joe said: "We want to ensure that we maximise every second of the time our patients spend with us in hospital, in order to support their recovery.

"By enabling our patients to take part in a range of therapeutic activities such as arts and crafts, gardening, and games sessions, we give them a chance to get away from the hospital ward environment and get involved in something therapeutic which can help their mental health and make their hospital stay that much easier.

"Our activity coordinators make a real difference to our patients and any money I raise will help support the brilliant work that they do on a daily basis."

Activities include arts and craft sessions, relaxation groups, gardening, games sessions, reading groups and world cooking.

Joe has been inspired by a new campaign - #TodayICan - introduced by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) to encourage staff in mental health and learning disabilities services to make small changes to ensure that patient time is better valued.

Sue, who was a new mum at the time, has now come out the other side. Doctors believed she had developed post-partum psychosis, a severe episode of mental illness which affects one in every 1,000 new mums.

Joe knew Sue as she had spent some time as a patient on the psychiatric unit.

He said: "It’s so lovely to see that Sue is now living a normal life and coming out of the other side of being in a very bad place,” he said.

To donate to Joe, visit www.gofundme.com/run-5k-everyday-in-november