Charlie & Brendan's Marathon
Charlie Knight & Bren Ledger will be running the Toronto Marathon on October 21st to help raise awareness of men's mental health and HeadsUpGuys.
"No matter how low you feel, there is always someone willing to listen and help."
About the Marathon:
Charlie and Brendan will be participating in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Oct 21st, 2018 – that’s a 42km run (26 miles). They’re raising awareness of mental health issues among men and letting guys know it’s OK to ask for help.
Charlie: “I’m 28 and from the UK. I currently live in Toronto and I only started to run in January this year. I’ve found running clears my mind and helps me relax. When I’m not running, I’m counteracting the process with drinks and good food.”
Brendan: “I run and try to live an active lifestyle because keeping my body active, keeps my mind healthy. I love the challenge of long distance running and the peace it gives me to help deal with life’s daily stress.”
WHY RUN?
We interviewed Charlie on his motivations for the run and the message he and Brendan want to share:
WHY ADVOCATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH?
The major turning point was losing my cousin to suicide in 2015. Losing someone who was the life of any party and the funniest person I knew was and still is, hard to come to terms with. I wish everyday that I could of helped or even understood why.
This is why men’s mental health is so important to me.
WHAT DO YOU WANT GUYS FIGHTING DEPRESSION TO KNOW?
- Reaching out to someone isn’t a sign of weakness in the slightest, it’s a show of strength and courage.
- No matter how low you feel, there is always someone willing to listen and help. There are tons of resources out there.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A FRIEND YOU’RE CONCERNED ABOUT?
- “I’m here for you. I’ll always be there to listen and try my best to help you with this battle. I know mental health comes in many different shapes and sizes and each person suffers differently. I’m constantly trying to increase my knowledge and understanding of men’s mental health so I can provide you with the support you deserve.”
– Charlie Knight, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.