Kyle back in the saddle:
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Cyclist Kyle Johnston has revealed he was on the brink of suicide until his work with East Kilbride Community Trust hauled him out of the darkness.
The 21-year-old from Calderwood is back on his bike after six months out suffering from stress and a deep depression, which was triggered by personal problems.
But the reigning East Kilbride Sports Personality of the Year told the News volunteering with EKCT’s Sunday Club – assisting children with additional support needs – has brought some light back into his life and helped him on the road to recovery.
Such is his appreciation for the trust and their support, Kyle will now race competitively for the EKCT Racing Team in 2019, subject to approval from British Cycling.
“This has been the worst year of my career,” Kyle confessed as he delved into the dark days that followed a season of breaking Under-23 Scottish records and winning the team pursuit title at the 2017 Scottish national track championships.
“I’ve been dealing with a lot of family problems and issues behind the scenes. “It’s been horrible. “It really affected my cycling and it got to the stage where I had to stop. It also cost me a position on the Commonwealth development team.
“I said to my mum to sell all my bikes, get rid of my gear, get it away from me.
“Three months ago I was even on suicide watch.
“I was on sick leave from work and came up to Calderglen Country Park with my dog, thinking about ending my life.
“I was sending my mum weird messages saying I couldn’t do this anymore and I need to end it.
“I have had friends who have passed away from such a thing and I’ve always thought to myself why can’t they just talk to someone.
“But I’ve realised it can just hit you like that.”
With Kyle struggling, East Kilbride Community Trust chief executive Monique McAdams – also a Labour councillor for East Kilbride West – and trustee James Kean heard about his plight and stepped in to help.
They believed volunteering with the trust’s Sunday Club could benefit him.
The Sunday Club cares for children with conditions including autism, Asperger’s, fragile X, Hurler syndrome, Lennox-Gastaux syndrome, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis and physical disabilities.
And Kyle said: “Those kids have definitely been my reason to race again.
“If I didn’t find Monique and James, EKCT and these great kids, I’d still be struggling right now.
“When I was in the bad place and I wasn’t racing, I was up volunteering and the kids were asking me about racing.
“So when they are asking me all these questions, I realised they are meant to be inspired by me.
“You see what they have been through and what they have to deal with every day – so they actually inspired me and made me get back on the bike.
“When I brought my bike in one weekend, they were ecstatic about it and delighted to see it.
“This was a bike I was going to sell or throw away, so it gave me a really good feeling to see their reaction to it.
“It might just inspire them to become the next EK Sports Personality.”
Kyle’s thoughts are now returning to racing.
And he won bronze at the Scottish track championships earlier this month on his first competitive event back in the saddle.
He finished third in the Scottish 20km senior men’s scratch race and hopes to wear his new EKCT colours in his next event to help promote the work of the trust.
He said: “As soon as I put the kit on, everyone is asking about EKCT at my track league, who they are and what they do.
“I’ll be travelling all over Britain with this kit, so the plan is to let more people know about the trust.
“The kit has got to be cleared and after that I can start racing under EKCT.”
Kyle added: “I’m really happy with the kit Pro Vision have come up with and I’m looking forward to racing in it.”
You can find out more about EKCT and the work they do by visiting http:// eastkilbridecommunitytrust. co.uk/ or you can find them on Facebook.