26 Miles. 1 mile for every year that my wife’s cousin, Ryan, lived his
life until last year, when he took his own life.

Whilst a marathon may be a challenge, it pales in comparison to the
challenges that Ryan faced in his life. 
From losing his best friend in tragic circumstances, to enduring with
the prejudices that gay people regularly face and living with the cruel black dog; depression, which ultimately consumed him.

Every week 84 men in the UK take their own lives, according
to the Campaign Against Living Miserably, and the statistics make even more grim reading for people that identify as LGBTQ.

In a 2017 survey, 50% of gay men in the UK who experienced depression had contemplated suicide, and 24% had already made an attempt.
27% of the respondents cited homophobic bullying as the main reason for their depression. 

I’ll be running the marathon for Stonewall, which is the charity of choice for Ryan’s family.  Ryan was a principled and exceptionally talented man, and I would like to honour his memory with your help to support their excellent work, such as the rainbow laces campaign https://www.stonewall.org.uk/our-work/campaigns/rainbow-laces.

Ryan’s sister, Amy, contacted the BBC during a program about suicide on the Kaye Adams show.  You can read the synopsis here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-43553877

The route is available in this link http://www.strava.com/routes/13666916

Starting at either Glen Etive or Glencoe Ski Centre it will follow the West Highland Way to Fort William.