Made in Chelsea star Josh Patterson is embarking on his toughest challenge yet as he is running 76 marathons in 76 days across the UK.
The reality star will be running 76 marathons, in 76 cities, in 76 days, with the aim of raising £1 million for the suicide prevention charity, Samaritans. The 33-year-old will be running through Stirling on Friday, March 3; Dunfermline on Saturday, March 4; Edinburgh on Sunday, March 5, and Glasgow on Monday, March 6.
Josh, who shares his daughter India with ex-girlfriend Binky Felstead, has struggled with mental health issues since he was a teenager and has embarked on this incredible challenge to raise £1 million for Samaritans.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for men under the age of 50 and Josh has launched Run 4 1 Million as a fundraising bid to prove anything is possible. He is hoping to raise £1 million for the charity, which would allow them to fund 200,000 life saving phone calls.
Speaking about his incredible challenge, Josh said: "Having struggled with mental health myself to the point I thought about ending my life, I was fortunate enough to get support from several incredible professionals, my family, and friends. I’m very aware though, not everyone is as lucky.
"My life has changed immeasurably since that moment and I’m now in a place where I want to show others they are not alone, and things can and will get better."
He continued: "Through testing my own limits with endurance sport, I have built strength, resilience, and best of all, a community I love. Setting myself near impossible challenges has been a vital tool to attract attention and to shine a light on mental health.
"Whether you are personally struggling or have been impacted by mental health through a loved one, I hope that this mammoth challenge will inspire people to reach out, speak out, and know they are not alone.
"So come and join me in one of the cities for a run or to say hey and if I don’t see you in person, all I ask is for you to spread the word about the challenge. Together let’s make a World Record and get more people exercising while talking about how they are genuinely feeling."
Sonya Trivedy, Samaritans Executive Director for Income, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Josh who will not only be raising money to help Samaritans be there for people struggling to cope, he will also be spreading his message of hope to every city across the UK.
"We wish him the very best of luck and look forward to cheering him on throughout his inspirational challenge and over the last finish line in London.”
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