Man completes seven of 12 marathons in fundraising challenge in brother’s memory

A Scottish man has passed the halfway point in a gruelling 12-day marathon challenge to raise money for a mental health charity in memory of his brother.

As of Monday, Shaun Ennis had completed seven out of 12 marathons on consecutive days, including in Aberdeen, Dundee and Stirling.

The 46-year-old will continue his challenge with a marathon in Dunfermline on Monday and another in Edinburgh on Tuesday.

The dad-of-three, from Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, is running 314 miles across Scotland to raise funds for SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health), three years after losing his brother, Christopher, aged 35, following a mental health crisis.

Mr Ennis also wants to encourage men to speak more openly about their mental health.

He said the challenge is taking a physical and mental toll, but that he is pushing ahead to finish what he started.

“It’s getting lonely out there. The aches and pains are everywhere in my body, but it’s the mental side that’s taking the biggest toll,” the businessman said.

“When you’re running 26.2 miles every day, you’ve got a lot of time alone with your thoughts. You think about your life, what you’ve done right and what you wish you’d done differently.”

He added: “Christopher is with me every step of the way. I want to make him proud and finish what I started.”

The two brothers were involved in Glasgow’s boxing scene, organising matches and charity fundraisers together.

Mr Ennis previously said Christopher “suffered terribly” with his mental health, and he said if his challenge encourages even one person to open up about how they are feeling or ask for help, “then it will all have been worth it”.

“I keep thinking about Christopher. He spent more than 30 days in hospital and I never told him I loved him during that time. I was in denial, convinced he’d come home and everything would be OK,” Mr Ennis said at the halfway point of his challenge.

“I know he knew I loved him, but I wish I’d said it. If I could give anyone one piece of advice, it would be to tell the people you love how much they mean to you, while you still can.

“I can’t change what happened to Christopher, but hopefully I can make a difference to somebody else.”

Having completed seven marathons, Mr Ennis is encouraging people across Scotland to come and support him on the remainder of his journey, during which he will continue to visit some of the community mental health services which SAMH delivers in Scotland.

“I’d love people to join me along the way, even if it’s just for a wee run or to give me a cheer. The support means everything, especially as the miles take their toll,” he said.

Mr Ennis will complete his 12th and final marathon on Friday at The Nook – SAMH’s walk-in hub on Wilson Street in Glasgow’s Merchant City.

Anyone who wishes to donate can do so at www.justgiving.com/page/shauns-12marathons