A team of Ayrshire footballers braved freezing conditions to run in memory of every Scot who lost their life to suicide last year.
Players, coaching staff and club officials at Troon FC tackled sub-zero temperatures, icy paths and roads to run 833 kilometres in just 17 days.
The incredible feat helped the club – who had their season postponed due to Covid – raise £1,043 for a mental health charity set up by ex-Scotland striker Kris Boyd.
Assistant manager and player Dean Keenan wanted to do something positive amidst a tough January lockdown.
After hearing the stats that 833 people died by suicide in Scotland last year, the former Ayr United star was determined to honour those lost lives, as well as families and friends impacted by suicide.
Dean told the Ayrshire Post: “It is horrendous to think there was 833 deaths by suicide in Scotland last year.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw that statistic, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
“It is not just 833 deaths, but that’s 833 families who have been changed forever, 833 groups of friends who will never be complete again. 833 people who will be sorely missed.
“We wanted to do something positive, whilst getting out and staying active. Mental health is so important right now these are really tough times for some people.”
Dean spoke with Kris about helping out his charity that was set up after the ex-Rangers and Kilmarnock star’s younger brother Scott took his own life in 2016.
The Kris Boyd Charity helps provide support, education and awareness around mental health.
Dean added: “It’s good to know there are support networks there, I got in touch with Kris and we had a good chat about the work the charity does for people.”
In just 17 days the players blasted through their challenge, finishing on 845km, with some taking on half-marathons.
It wasn’t without some difficulty as Ayrshire was hit with a winter ice blast.
Dean said: “One of our players [Isaac Kerr] fell on the ice and grazed his knee.
“The weather’s not been kind, one of our coaches had to isolate, then he felt obliged to come out at the end of the run.
“We were competing against all the elements, but the challenges were nothing compared to someone that is facing their own battle with mental health.
“Once we finished, we did a Zoom call just to congratulate everyone and bring them up to do date with the money we raised.
“It was good to see some of the boys and have that togetherness after such a difficult start to the year.
"To draw awareness to mental health is always going to be a positive thing.”
To find out how you can help the Kris Boyd Charity, click here.
