12 marathons. 12 days. 314.4 miles across Scotland.

From Monday 26th October to Friday 6th November, I’ll take on the biggest – and final – challenge I’ve ever set myself: running a full marathon every day for 12 consecutive days to raise money for SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health).

This challenge is for my brother, Christopher, who died aged just 35.

Last year, I took on 456 miles of running and cycling in Christopher’s memory. Thanks to the incredible number of people who supported me, donated and got involved along the way, we raised more than £20,000 for charity.

Since then, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect.

Christopher is the reason I started doing these challenges, and this time I want to use his memory to do something that can make a difference for other people struggling with their mental health.

That’s why I’m raising money for SAMH.

Mental health affects so many of us, our friends and the people we love. Too often, people can find it difficult to talk about what they’re going through or to reach out when they need support.

So this challenge is about more than running.

It’s about raising money. It’s about getting people talking. And, for me, it’s about doing something positive in Christopher’s memory.

Over 12 consecutive days, I’ll run 314.4 miles, taking on a marathon in all eight of Scotland’s cities – Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Aberdeen, Perth, Dundee, Stirling and Dunfermline – as well as Argyll and Bute, East Renfrewshire, West Dunbartonshire and East Dunbartonshire.

I know how difficult this is going to be.

One marathon is 26.2 miles. I’ll have to get up the next morning and do it again. And again. Twelve times without a day off.

I’m also clear that this will be my last big challenge, so I want to make it count.

I’d love people across Scotland to get involved. Come out and support me, join me for some of the miles, share the challenge and help us get people talking about mental health.

And, if you can, please donate to SAMH.

No donation is too small. Last year showed me what can happen when people get behind something together, and I’d love to see us do that again.

314.4 miles. 12 marathons. 12 days. One last challenge, for Christopher.

Thank you,

Shaun