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I am taking part in this year's Belfast City Marathon Relay, running 4.5 miles in aid of Rural Support's Life Beyond Programme. Any donation, big or small, would be greatly appreciated.

Why I chose to take part in the challenge?

As a full-time beef and sheep farmer and agriculture consultant, I understand first-hand the pressures that come with farming life. Farming can be rewarding, but it can also be isolating — and when bereavement or personal crisis strikes, that isolation can deepen quickly. In my role as a farm business mentor with Rural Support, I work closely with farmers who are navigating financial stress, succession challenges, and personal pressures. Behind every farm business is a family, and behind every family is a story.

Taking part in the Belfast Marathon Relay is my way of giving something back and raising awareness of Rural Support’s Life Beyond bereavement programme. If running a few miles helps raise awareness and funds to support farming families through some of their darkest days, then it’s a privilege to do it.

What I hope to gain from it?

Personally, I see this as both a challenge and a privilege. Farming is physically demanding and training for the marathon relay pushes you in a similar way – it also requires discipline, resilience, perseverance and teamwork in order to reach your end goal.

Farming isn’t just a job — it’s a way of life. It’s early mornings, long days, and generations tied to the same land. When loss happens in a farming family, it affects not only the business but identity, routine, and community.

As someone who farms full-time, I understand that culture. We’re often good at getting on with things and not always as good at talking about grief or mental wellbeing. Running in this relay is my way of standing alongside fellow farmers and saying: support is there, and it’s okay to reach out.

What impact the funds raised will have on the charity?

The funds raised will directly support Rural Support’s vital services provided through its Life Beyond programme. These funds help provide confidential support, one-to-one mentoring, practical guidance and safe spaces where individuals can talk openly about their grief.

For many farming families, bereavement doesn’t just bring emotional strain — it can also affect the future of the farm business and family dynamics. The money raised will help ensure that no one in our rural community has to navigate that journey alone.

You’re not just donating to a charity — you’re helping a neighbour, a farming family, someone who may be quietly struggling. The money raised will allow Rural Support to continue delivering tailored support through its Life Beyond programme to those who need it most, across Northern Ireland.

Gerard.