I blew €5m gambling ..it drove me to edge
Ex rugby player lost everything but is now running 100 miles to raise awareness over addiction
A FORMER professional rugby player who lost over €5million to his gambling addiction is running 100 miles to raise awareness around the issue.
Mark Bradshaw, 40, said he only turned things around when he hit rock bottom and was contemplating taking his own life. He now lives in Dublin with his partner Michaela and daughter Isla, but told how gambling and alcohol resulted in him losing his home, his wife, his two sons and his job. Mark, who hails from Yorkshire and once played rugby for the England U18s team, said many young Irish men have contacted him since he shared his story on social media. He told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “I’m 40 now and gambling dominated literally all my life. “Even some of my childhood memories are formed around the seaside and playing on slot machines and the 2p machines. “My full-on addiction started when I could go into a bookies and place a bet. “My rugby career came crashing down because of gambling. “Any down time I had would be at the bookies, I would skip training sessions to bet, that very much subsided. “I then went into the military and that came crashing down and so I set up a recruitment company. “I set up my own firm and got a very lucky break and that’s when the gambling really spiralled. “I got a huge contract with a supermarket chain which made me basically an overnight millionaire. “I was 26 and one of my first pay cheques was for €180,000. “The money flowed from there and I made millions and that just accelerated things from a gambling perspective. “Putting €20,000 or €30,000 on a horse I didn’t see as ridiculous. “I was gambling anything up to
€50,000 a day. I had staked £1million pound on my betting account in one month at one stage.”
Mark said he hit rock bottom and was “so close to taking my own life”.
He revealed: “I was on a boat from Cork to Santander and I looked into the ocean when on that ferry and thought ‘Would I survive if I went overboard now?’.”
Mark, who has two sons from a previous marriage and twoyear-old daughter, said despite losing everything he now wants to be an inspiration for his kids.
He continued: “I can say that at least £5million of my money has gone on gambling.
“It ruined my life, I
Gambling dominated literally all my life.. and I lost everything MARK BRADSHAW ON ADDICTION HE OVERCAME
lost everything.
”It has been the hardest journey and I’m still picking up the pieces now from it.
“I lost my home, wife, friends, businesses and most importantly my relationship with my two sons.
“Accepting, owning and taking responsibility for my addiction allowed me to rebuild from the rubble that was left.”
He credited his partner Michaela for helping him turn things around.
Mark added: “Had I not met her I don’t know what would have happened.
The former athlete started off on his epic 100-mile run yesterday morning and is expected to complete it today.
If you have an issue with addiction and would like advice see gamblingcare.ie.