My name is Bradley Heron, and I’m a former member of the Parachute Regiment. This November, I’m running the whole length of the United Kingdom from John o’ Groats to Land’s End in just 20 days — Wearing a weighted vest to represent the hidden burdens men carry every day.

The challenge is called ‘The Weight We Carry’ — because for years, I’ve carried my own invisible weight: the mental health struggles that came after leaving the military. Like too many men, I stayed silent for far too long. Thankfully, I found the right support when I needed it but I know many others aren’t as lucky. Too often, silence turns into suffering, and some men lose their lives before they ever get the help they deserve.

This run is my way of breaking that silence — for myself, for my brothers in uniform, and for every man fighting a battle behind the scenes.

Every week in the UK, more than 100 men take their own lives. Not because they’re weak, but because they felt like they couldn’t speak up. That has to change.

This is more than a run — it’s a statement. A mission to raise awareness for men’s mental health, and to raise funds for organisations that offer real support to those who need it most.

I’m raising funds and awareness for two incredible charities doing vital work:

• Support Our Paras – providing support to serving and veteran members of the Parachute Regiment and their families.

• Men’s Minds Matter – a charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide through specialist psychological support for men in crisis.

Please donate whatever you can. Every penny helps me get this message across the country and gives men the support they deserve before it’s too late.

I will be sharing my journey on Instagram/TikTok/Facebook if you would like to keep an eye on how I am gettting on! - bradley__heron

Let’s lift the weight, together.