Man Up and Down 2025

Hi there, my name is Helen. I’m doing it again and on my own! I am running Man Up and Down 20K. It’s from Portreath to Perranporth along the coastal path. The brilliant people at Purple Gecko have opened this event up to offer charity places so instead of paying a big race fee it’s now reduced as long as we can raise over £50 each for the charity Man Down.

Running has been an essential outlet after bereavement for me and I haven’t given up even after completing Man Up and Down twice before! It’s super tough as it’s mostly tracks and steep paths. It really takes its toll on the ankles with the rocks, shale, undulating paths and almost vertical steps.

The reason behind choosing this run was, and still is, about this amazing charity, Man Down, Cornwall and how they can help men, men who need support.

My brother Ed Bol tragically died by suicide in February 2021 aged 41. He had mental health issues all his adult life. He was an amazing brilliant kind, caring person. I miss him so much and think of him every day. He’d just turn up unannounced and stay for dinner. I still think he might randomly walk through the door. But we’ve had to accept what’s happened. However, we have to try, try to help others.

Ed was a son, brother, uncle, nephew and friend to so many. He was a tree surgeon, trawler fisherman, and musician. He had a love of the sea; an excellent surfer and sailor. His achievements were awesome and inspiring, from building a house for our parents to being a professional musician, (Rockstar!) playing Bass Guitar for many bands. He toured Japan with Neon Hearts, Ireland with Raymond Froggatt, was sound engineer on Radio Shropshire’s BBC introducing, first to champion and record Becky Hill in his own studio, Rockshed. Yet, he never blew his own trumpet! He was a big part of his community. He and his dog Ace were well loved. He helped people in his community, he quickly and cleverly solved and fixed things, Ed was the ‘go to’ man. We know he was neurodiverse, and his not being ‘normal’ troubled him but to us that was just the brilliance and grumpiness of our Ed. He half hid most of the hard times from us, wanted happiness, hated pity, loved making people happy, good times were awesome, bad times sank very low.

Please continue to remember the Ed Bol who touched so many lives with those great times!

Man Down can help the minds of men. They have expanded to so many locations across Cornwall because of the generosity of people like you. Last time I ran with my fabulous friend Steph and the money we raised in 2021 went towards hiring a venue for a year. I hope I can do it again. Times are tough for people and men are vulnerable too.

We hope that by taking part in this event we can make people aware of the help out there. Importantly, it is ok to seek help, take the offers of help. Changing the mindset of can’t or won’t or it’s not for me. Man Down, Cornwall can help.

If you can donate. Please do.

Thank you.