DOZENS of Swansea students took part in a race last month to commemorate and raise money for a Swansea student who passed away earlier this year.

Mitchell Lewis (pictured), a physics’ student, died in May, causing widespread sadness amongst many students, especially those who worked closely with him in the Students’ Union.

Many members of his family were also participants in the annual Admiral 10K run along the Swansea seafront.

Those who took part are believed to have raised at least £3,000 for the Mind, a mental health charity.

Stephen Marshall, a Swansea alumni and friend of Mitchell, raised £271. He said: “The race went really well, despite the muggy conditions. It was the fundraising for a great cause that pushed us forward in Mitch’s name.”

Mitchell’s mother said: “The image Mitch portrayed to others was one of a happy, smiling outgoing person, full of life and making the very most of his university experience and in the main he was indeed all of these.
“There was another side to Mitch however, that very few people saw because he was also a very private young man. Periods of sleepless nights, or days of sleep, feelings of anxiety, unable to focus or concentrate for any length of time, constantly trying to fit in with his peers, mood swings and the feeling of inability to cope with day-to-day issues were all covered up to the outside world.
“Although he refused to acknowledge it, Mitch suffered with depression, never clinically diagnosed because he always believed he had to sort it out himself, feeling that he alone felt this way and others were able to deal with things much better than he could.
“If only Mitch had allowed himself to be helped, spoken with someone, he might have realised that he was not alone in feeling this way.
“The Mind organisation helps people with such mental health problems as these and also friends and families trying to cope with loved ones unfortunate to have these kinds of issues.
“Sadly, it’s too late to make a difference to Mitch’s life now but raising money in Mitch’s memory to enable Mind to continue their work makes Mitch’s death a little less meaningless in so much as if just one person’s life can be changed for the better and save those that love them from enduring a loss like we have this year, every penny raised is worthwhile.”

His cousin Ceri Parker, who also participated, said: “I was so humbled by the numbers who joined me on the run and am so proud to have been a part of the event with so many who loved and cared for Mitch.
“By raising this money we are helping save somebody else who is going through the same as Mitch.
“He might be gone, but he’ll never be forgotten and this run was just one of many things that family and friends will do to promote mental health awareness in his memory.”