On the run for Chris’s House
Raising awareness of a lifeline service
Hundreds of people took part in a 24-hour running challenge at the weekend, helping to raise awareness of Wishaw charity Chris’s House.
Holytown Suicide Awareness community group originally organised a 0-to-100K walk and run event throughout the month of February.
Stemming from that a 24-hour running challenge was planned for Saturday, February 20, and it gripped the imagination of the public.
The initial plan was that 48 people would each get a half hour time slot to complete their run or walk, meaning every minute of the day would be used to highlight suicide awareness.
Those taking part were also encouraged to wear a Chris’s House t-shirt to help raise awareness of the outstanding work the charity does.
They were blown away by the response to the challenge, incredibly, over 300 people got in touch with Holytown Suicide Awareness to ask for a t-shirt.
Those involved were encouraged to upload pictures and selfies of themselves taking part in the challenge on social media and tag Chris’s House in their post.
Holytown Suicide Awareness was set up by a group of friends – brothers Liam, Sean and Daniel Fagan; Keir, Jody and Brett Agnew, who are also brothers; Chris Bungard; Ben Russel; Craig Murray; Gary Mcnab and Robert Menzies.
They have already raised more than £35,000 for Chris’s House through the Paul Fagan Memorial Cup, a seven-aside football tournament.
The event was unable to go ahead last June and while a date has been booked for this summer, it’s unclear if it will proceed.
Liam explained: “We set up the tournament in memory of my dad who took his own life in 2008, aged 40.
“We’ve not went any further than booking the date this year. Realistically we can’t see it happening.
“I think football is important for men’s mental health, and for women too. It’s a great day.
“The first year we just had the football but the second year we added on bouncy castles, rides, face painting, a tuck shop. Then we managed to get some big companies onboard with sponsorship.
“We are making it into a bigger fun day now and putting on food and stuff and we have a night time event too. We don’t just want it to be a ‘put your hands in your pocket’ event.
“Myself, my brother Daniel and my mate Gary Mcnab go running round Chatelherault Park every Saturday.
“We were scunnered with the lockdown like everyone else and came up with the idea of having the 24-hour challenge and thought, ‘Why don’t we make it for Chris’s House?’ but just to raise awareness.
“People can get a bit fed up if you’re looking for another donation or have another JustGiving page.”