When Jon Salmon signed up to run the London Marathon for a charity close to his heart, he never dreamt his efforts would get royal support.

The 39-year-old from Walthamstow and friend, John Goodwin, want to raise £10,000 for Best Beginnings, which supports babies and parents as part of the Heads Together campaign.

The pair decided to run the marathon in memory of Mr Goodwin’s sister, Michelle, who took her own life after a battle with postnatal depression.

However, they were shocked to discover at the Heads Together launch day in January the campaign was also being backed by Prince Harry and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Mr Salmon met the royals after giving a talk at the event on his own battle with mental health problems almost 20 years ago.

“In 1999, I had finished university, I was working at my first job and one morning I just became completely stressed and anxious.” He said.

“Over a period of time it built up and ended with me going to hospital after I tried to take my own life. 

“I was able to get the right help for me, talking therapy. My dad suffered from depression and when I was a teenager he took his life and I had not dealt with that, I was hiding it away.

“But I decided enough was enough was when John’s sister, Michelle, took her life. I knew I had to start talking to people about what happened to me and what helped.

“Heads Together is all about those small conversations about mental health and reducing the stigma.

“It is especially important for men, statistically they are less likely than women to talk about mental health and suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK.”

In February, Mr Salmon was invited with celebrities and other members of the public to the Olympic Park as one of the Duchess of Cambridge’s relay team.

The runners took on teams organised by Prince William and Prince Harry as part of a Heads Together marathon training day.

Supported by the three royals, Heads Together has relaunched ahead of the London Marathon with the aim of breaking stigmas and encouraging conversation around mental health.

This week, Prince Harry revealed he sought counselling after enduring two years of “total chaos” struggling to deal with the death of his mother, Princess Diana.

The prince said he had “shut down his emotions” for almost two decades despite his brother, Prince William, urging him to seek help.

Mr Salmon believes Prince Harry’s admission was a “tipping point” in the discussion on mental health and hopes it will encourage more people to talk about their own problems.

He added: “It has been quite surreal to be involved in the campaign and to have met the royals a couple of times now as well.

“But, I think what really comes across is that this is such an important project for them and it is amazing how much time and effort they have put into it.

“Mental health does not discriminate, it affects normal people like me, but it also affects royalty. 

“Now we are at a tipping point, this is turning into a local, national and worldwide campaign with real momentum behind it.”

To show your support to Mr Salmon and Mr Goodwin ahead of the run, visit: bit.ly/jonandjohn. For more information on Heads Together, visit: headstogether.org.uk.