Last year, I ran the Scottish Half Marathon in memory of my brother Christopher. This year, I'm taking on the EMF full marathon on 24th May to continue raising awareness of prison deaths in Scotland and the long-lasting impact they have on families left behind.

Christopher lost his life during a short 7-month sentence in Barlinnie prison. He struggled with his mental health and addiction and required support, but unfortunately, he was placed in a system that failed him.

Before loosing my brother I had no real understanding of how many deaths occurred within our prison systems. I have sat alongside many families, listening to their stories and the hard truths about what they have had to endure at the hands of imprisonment, their loss and the Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) system.

I'll continue to run in Christopher's memory, every mile I run is for him.

I am running to support every family navigating this level of prolonged grief.

I am running to raise further awareness of the need for change so fewer families experience this pain.

Every week I work in services that support individuals who are faced with various physical, emotional and social challenges, who aren't always equipped to cope on their own. CrossReach believe that with the right support, at the right time, every person can flourish and every life can be fulfilling.

Every single day someone in Scotland desperately needs support from one of our services which cover areas including substance use, counselling & support, homelessness, mental health and specialist care. Your support enhances, changes and saves lives.

This is the reason I have decided I want to give back to this organisation and to raise as much awareness as possible.