Messenger completes gruelling 100-mile charity challenge

Andy Messenger during his gruelling 24-hour challenge

Messenger ran a staggering 109 miles in 24 hours, raising over £4,000 to date for the charity.

“Thank you to every runner and supporter, you have proven what I knew when we launched this event,” said Messenger.

“Our community is a supportive one, we stand together and when we do it’s amazing and we can do some real good.

“We got our message out in the most glorious of ways that it is ok to not be ok, and if you need us we will be there, in a heartbeat.

“You are, all of you, awesome people and this event won’t be forgotten in a hurry.

“Thank you to everyone. There wasn’t one hour across the whole 24 where someone didn’t come out to cheer.

“The event went off so so well. Runners across the town took part virtually and even runners as far away as Australia.”

CALM are a leading men’s mental health charity which seeks to combat the single biggest killer of men under 45 years of age, suicide.

Messenger added: “Eighty-four men a week take their own lives. It’s also the case that 75% of suicides are males, and 25% of males live with some form of mental illness.

“Males are also, statistically, less likely to speak out and seek help for their mental health concerns.

“These stats really got to me at the outset and were the main driver behind the event.”

Donations have flooded in and Messenger has smashed the £2,400 target, with the amount raised currently at £4,200 with more to come in.

You can donate via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/24in2020