West Lothian man runs 500 miles to raise money for charity

“It was a bit tough.”

Paul Brown completed his challenge at the castle.

A West Lothian man ran almost 500 miles in July to raise money for two charities.

Paul Brown, 40, completed an accumulator challenge, running an increasing number of miles each day to correspond with the date.

He began with one mile on the first, and from the 26th of the month completed more than a marathon a day.

“It was a bit tough, especially at the end of the month,” Mr Brown said.

“In the middle of the month I had a few aches and pains in my legs, but the bigger physical and mental challenge was in the last ten days. There were days when it was really tough.

“It was a challenge just to keep going. I’m glad to have finished now!”

Mr Brown, who has completed several physical challenges for charity in the past including seven marathons in seven days and 15 laps of Arthur’s Seat, said this was the hardest challenge yet.

He has so far raised more than £1,000 to be split equally between baby loss charity Held in our Hearts, previously SANDS Lothian, and the Neil’s Hugs Foundation, which gives support to families affected by suicide.

“I was introduced to Held in our Hearts by a friend who was supported by the charity, and when I found out what they did I thought it was a very worthwhile cause,” he said.

The Neil’s Hugs Foundation is based in Mr Brown’s local area of Armadale, founded by Donna Paterson-Harvie who lost her son Neil to suicide in September 2011.

“I was aware of people in the local community who had taken their own lives, and especially during lockdown the issue of mental health had come to the fore,” said Mr Brown.

Mr Brown will keep his fundraiser open until August 22.

“There have been some great donations, both from people close to me and even from some I’ve never met before,” he said.

“The response has been fantastic, I’m really over the moon.”

Mr Brown, who works for the Nursing and Midwifery Council in Edinburgh, began his runs locally and gradually started to venture further afield, being driven to locations and running back to West Lothian.

On July 28 he started his 28 mile run at Easter Road, and the following day he ran 29 miles from a starting point in Fife, taking in the Forth Road Bridge.

On his penultimate day he ran from Celtic Park in Glasgow, and for his final run he kicked things off at Edinburgh Castle with a group of well-wishers and supporters.

Both charities thanked Mr Brown for his fundraising activities.

Held in our Hearts said: “This challenge is part of ongoing support Paul has given to us and he wants more people to know about each charity and the importance of reaching out to local organisations when you need support.

“The lockdown in response to Covid-19 has raised new challenges for people’s mental health and it is more important than ever that people who experience baby loss or the suicide of a loved one know that they are not alone.

“Awareness raising campaigns such as Paul’s are crucial in helping people know who they can turn to for much-needed support.

“We truly cannot thank him enough for his tireless dedication to our work.”

The fundraiser can be found here.

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