A Stirling student is taking on a punishing birthday challenge in an effort to raise awareness of a Forth Valley mental health service.
Maciek Welna, who has just completed a law degree at Stirling University, decided to fundraise for Falkirk and District Association for Mental Health while taking on the gruelling effort of completing 27 marathons before his 28th birthday.
The challenge began on November 27 last year, with Maciek keen to support FDAMH due to his wife’s Siobhan’s role as a mental health practitioner for the charity and for the work it does in supporting young people particularly across the area.
Maciek said: “Mental health is a really important part of my life and in the lives of most people, so I’m trying to shed more light on to it and encourage people to talk.
“The issue of mental health is a greatly important topic in my life. Every day I notice an increasing number of people who struggle with their mental health.
“The young person’s service which she is a part of has provided help to a countless number of people. I believe that early intervention is the key to a better future for those young people, this is why I want to do everything in my power to give back to this fantastic charity.”
An online fundraiser set up by Maciek has already raised more than £2,100 - well on the way to the target on the page set at £5,000.
Maciek is completing the 27 marathons via a combination of official events such as the Edinburgh Marathon alongside regular runs into Stirling and Glasgow – with Siobhan offering vital support and documenting his journey on social media.
“I thought of Challenge 27 over a year ago; I wanted to challenge myself to see what I was capable of and I fell in love with running during lockdown, going from someone who couldn’t run a couple of kilometres to completing marathons”, Maciek added.
“I gave myself a whole year to do it and that was supposed to be a marathon every two weeks but I got injured for two months, so I’m having to catch up and have been running marathons every weekend for the past three weeks.
“It has been a physically and mentally difficult effort and I have got to know myself much more in a whole different capacity, especially when you put yourself through so much struggle and pain.
“I would recommend challenging yourself like this to people, maybe not a marathon but something new - it does a world of good for your mental health when you have the endorphins running through your body and feeling that sense of achievement.”
To donate to Maciek’s fundraiser, you can visit fdamh.enthuse.com/pf/challenge27.
