60kms to Christmas

I'm running 60kms to raise money for my friend's family. Let me tell you why.

My friend Dan, my brother, took his own life in September this year. This has left all of us who knew him - his wife, 3 kids, family, friends and colleagues - with an enormous hole in our lives as he was the friend you could always rely on, the dad who would always be there for his kids, the loving husband, the devoted son and the guy you could count on to give you a hand at work. He was truly a special man.

Personally, Dan helped me enormously over many years. When I was setting up my video business, he recommended me to clients, provided camera & editing equipment, he even travelled to Zambia for several weeks to film a documentary for us. When I needed a friend to talk to Dan was always there. When I had a crazy creative idea that most people would just smile and nod their heads at, Dan would actually help plan it and then execute it with me. He walked my wife down the aisle at our wedding when her family couldn't attend. I love him and miss him so much.

And I know that everyone who knew him has similar stories. Of a man who always went out of his way to make others' lives better. To help where needed and who lit up any room he was in with his huge personality, deep love of life and generosity of spirit.

So as his family begins the unimaginable, of a life without a husband, father, brother and son, I want to do whatever I can to help relieve some of the financial pressure of relocating, finding a house, getting set up in a new place and getting through this first Christmas. This is my going away gift to my friend's family.

And I also want to talk about, learn about and share stories about male suicide. Dan was surrounded by people who loved him, who would do anything to help him, who would support in any way they could. And he still felt alone and unable to carry on. Something isn't right in the way we approach this and deal with male mental health.

The 60km run is inspired by Movember, who are challenging people to move 60kms in recognition of the 60 men globally who take their own lives every hour. Dan was also a champion runner when he was younger, so this seems a fitting way to honour him.

I'm going to be training over the next few weeks so I can complete 60kms without major injury, and then in early-mid December (date TBC) I will put one foot in front of the other until I complete 60kms in one go.

All the money raised for this will go directly to Dan's family so they can have some financial help over Christmas, to remove some of the strain of the huge upheaval that moving and starting a new life entails.

Thank you for following along. And for any donations, whether it's $1 or $100 I am truly grateful. Thank you.