Hi, my name is Tom York.

On the 11th to 12th July, I’ll be attempting to run 100 miles in 24 hours

I’m taking on this challenge for one simple reason: To shine a light on the mental health suffering that is being experienced in UK agriculture and Men.

I’ve lived with mental health struggles for many years. What I’ve learned is that the hardest part isn’t always the pain itself, it’s carrying it quietly while the world assumes you’re fine. Mental strength isn’t about never struggling; it’s about taking one step forward when stopping feels easier.

I also know this because I lost a close friend to suicide, someone whom I should still be able to laugh with today. Losing just one person was enough to change everything.

The challenge

100 miles in 24 hours.

Not just against my own limits… but against the clock.

This means running through exhaustion, discomfort, and doubt. It means staying awake at 3 am, 15 hours deep, when the body wants to stop, and the mind starts searching for reasons to quit.

But stopping isn’t an option… because if you stop, you don’t finish.

And that’s exactly why this challenge matters.

The meaning behind it

This run is a metaphor for the reality that many people, especially farmers and men, live every day.

Feeling like you have to keep going.

Feeling trapped by responsibility.

Feeling like slowing down or asking for help isn’t allowed.

Sometimes all you can do is take the next step — not because it’s easy, but because standing still feels worse.

I’m just a lad in his 20s trying to show that even in the darkest hours, one step forward is enough. You don’t need to see the finish line — you just need to keep moving.

Giving up isn’t an option. But neither is suffering in silence.

Why farming?

Farming is one of the most mentally demanding and isolating industries in the UK.

The reality is stark:

• 92% of UK farmers under 40 report poor mental health

• 40% experience symptoms of depression

• Suicide rates in farming are among the highest of any profession

Long hours, financial pressure, isolation, and a culture built on toughness make it incredibly hard to speak up when things aren’t okay.

I know this world, and I know how easily struggles can be hidden behind hard work.

Why men’s mental health?

Because this isn’t just a farming issue... It’s a male issue.

Globally, around 600,000 men die by suicide every year — roughly two men every minute. I only had to lose one to understand how real that number is.

In the UK, the majority of suicide deaths are men. Many never spoke openly about how much they were struggling.

This challenge is my way of saying: strength isn’t silence, and asking for help doesn’t make you weak.

Who I’m supporting

I’m raising money for The Farming Community Network (FCN), who provide confidential support to farmers and their families during times of stress, crisis, and isolation.

Often, they’re the people who answer the phone when someone feels they have nowhere else to turn.

Why your support matters

This isn’t about glorifying suffering or chasing extremes.

It’s about using a physical challenge to start honest conversations.

It’s about showing that endurance isn’t just physical — it’s mental.

And it’s about reminding people that progress doesn’t have to be loud — it just has to continue.

If this helps one farmer feel less alone, one man open up sooner, or one person choose to keep going — then every mile is worth it.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Thank you for supporting the cause.

And thank you for helping make mental health something we talk about — not something we bury.

Tom York