Man who ran 12 marathons in 12 days says late brother was with him ‘every step’
Christopher Ennis took his own life three years ago.
A Glasgow man who ran a marathon a day for 12 days in memory of his late brother said he was with him “every step along the way”, after crossing the final finish line.
Shaun Ennis’s brother Christopher took his own life, aged 35, three years ago.
Shaun, 46, took on the marathon challenge to raise funds for Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH).
Running a total of 314 miles, Shaun started the feat in his home town of Clydebank on October 26, finishing on Friday November 6 at SAMH’s The Nook in Glasgow.
After crossing the 12th finish line, he said: “I took on this challenge to stay connected with my brother and I’ve been able to keep him with me every step along the way.
“As hard as the running has been, it’s nothing compared to what losing Chris was for our family, so if this has inspired just one conversation, one person to speak to their loved ones about their mental health, then it has all been worth it.
“It’s a final chapter for me to allow myself to lay him to rest. This is my time to understand he isn’t coming back.
“If I can make even a small difference that will help give me peace and that’s all I want, because it’s hard.”
He added: “Finishing at The Nook has been really important to me. It’s the kind of place I believe could have helped save my brother’s life.
“It removes some of the barriers people face when looking for mental health support.
“You can simply walk through the door, sit down and have a conversation with someone who wants to listen. You don’t need an appointment or a referral.”
His feat follows the latest suicide figures for Scotland, with 703 probable deaths in 2025, which were almost identical to 2024’s 704 deaths, according to the National Records of Scotland.
SAMH’s The Nook is a free walk-in hub for mental health support launched last year, with one in Glasgow and another in Aberdeen.
They have collectively had more than 10,000 visitors since they launched.
Hazel McIlwraith, director of fundraising and major appeal at SAMH, said: “Shaun’s challenge has been an incredible feat of resilience and such a touching tribute to Christopher’s memory.
“Suicide has a devastating impact in families and communities across Scotland, particularly among men, who are sadly three times more likely to die by suicide.
“All of us at SAMH are so grateful to Shaun. We’d like to thank him for raising funds that will help us support people up and down the country, and for the message he has spread along the way.”
He received support from a number of celebrities, including Jamie Laing, the presenter whose career began on reality TV show Made in Chelsea.
He said: “What you are doing is simply incredible, you are an amazing individual and I’ll be thinking of you at the finish line.
“All for mental health, which is very close to my heart as well, I want to say congratulations, keep going, putting one foot in front of the other is the most important thing.
“I’m cheering you on and so many people are cheering you on.”
The SAMH fundraiser has raised £3,000 so far, and remains open for donations: https://www.justgiving.com/page/shauns-12marathons