An Edinburgh man is taking part in a unique challenge for charity where he’ll run four miles, every four hours, for four days straight.
Beginning on April 26, Jonny Gilpin will be doing it to raise funds for Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). Having set out to raise £500, he’s already exceeded the £1,000 mark and hopes to take it as far as he can.
Jonny, born in Northern Ireland though now living in Dalry, said the charity seemed like the right choice having been indirectly impacted the effects of suicide and mental health. He told Edinburgh Live : “Last year I did what’s called the David Goggins Challenge, where you either walk or run for four miles every four hours for two days.
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“I did it for cancer charity in Northern Ireland. This year, I’ve chosen a really good cause that does amazing work. For the challenge this time, I’ve taken what I did last year and doubled it.”
Jonny said the high levels of suicide in Northern Ireland made his charity choice easy this year. He continued: “Over there we’ve got one of the highest numbers of suicide in the UK and Europe.
“In 2016, one of my family members took their own life. My second cousin. I’ve got lots of family and friends who have struggled, either directly or with someone they know. It’s just awful that people my age and younger see it as the only way out.
“For lads to talk about mental health can be awkward, and it shouldn’t be. CALM does a lot work to make things like this easier.”
As for completing the challenge, Jonny anticipates a struggle. He told us: “I’m not an athlete so this is going to be no walk in the park, pardon the pun.
“I do the occasional run, but I like a drink and people who do this are usually a high level of fitness.”
CALM say they provide life-saving services, and bring people together so they can ‘reject living miserably’. On their website, they state: “We’re the Campaign Against Living Miserably and we’re taking a stand against suicide.
“That means standing against feeling s**t, standing up to stereotypes and standing together to show life is always worth living. 125 lives are lost every week to suicide, and 75 per cent of all UK suicides are male.
"From advice on our site, through to free, confidential chats with our helpline staff, online or on the phone, we’re here for whoever needs us, every day. No matter what.
"£8 is enough to fund one potentially life-saving call."
You can contribute to Jonny’s fundraiser here, and find out more about CALM here.
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