Ironman Andrew beats his target
Charity cash pours in
Former Blairgowrie High School pupil Andrew Ferguson raised more than £4000 for the Scottish Association for Mental Health by tackling an Ironman event.
A full Ironman triathlon involves a 2.4-mile outdoor swim, followed by a 112-mile cycle and a marathon run, all on the same day.
Andrew, 38, set himself a target time of 14 hours to complete the Ironman UK event, which was held in Bolton, and trained hard for several months.
His hard work paid off when he completed the event in a time of 12 hours 35 minutes and 28 seconds.
Andrew, who now lives in Dunfermline with his wife Tara and daughter Charlotte, was delighted both with becoming an Ironman and raising so much money.
Thanking Blairie readers for their support and generosity, Andrew said: “SAMH is Scotland’s leading mental health charity.
“In Scotland one in four people will experience a mental health problem and each day two people die through suicide.
“People close to me have suffered from mental health issues and I know what the impact of that can be to them and those around them.
“A colleague of mine took her own life in 2014 and, while no one will ever know why, I feel strongly that if I can raise money that might benefit someone else who is close to being in that position it would be worth every penny.
“There is such a stigma surrounding mental health and we can all play a role in shifting the perception of it.
“In our busy lives we don’t always accept the impact it has on our mental state and accept that it is as much an illness as physical issues. I hope I can play my part and raise some awareness of the issues involved.”
He added: “I am very grateful to everyone who has supported me and to my family and friends, without whom I couldn’t do this.”
Anyone who wants to contribute to his fundraising efforts can do so online at www.justgiving.com/AndrewFergusonIM.