Clydebank dad conquers gruelling 12 marathons in 12 days in memory of brother lost to suicide

A dad of three has crossed the finish line of an epic challenge to complete 12 marathons in 12 days in honour of brother who he lost to suicide.

Shaun Ennis, from Clydebank, was spurred on to complete the 314-mile journey across Scotland by the memory of his brother, Christopher, who died three years ago at the age of 35.

The endurance runner set off from his hometown in Clydebank on October 26, and finished outside The Nook, the Glasgow hub for Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) on Friday.

During his journey he visited all eight Scottish cities and was supported by locals as well as receiving messages of encouragement from celebrities including Charlie Mulgrew and Jamie Laing.

The former Made in Chelsea star said: “What you are doing is simply incredible, you are an amazing individual and I’ll be thinking of you at the finish line.

“All for mental health, which is very close to my heart as well, I want to say congratulations, keep going, putting one foot in front of the other is the most important thing.

“I’m cheering you on and so many people are cheering you on.”

He crossed the line in front of delighted friends and family, and says the reason behind the challenge was to help more men speak out about mental health struggles.

His efforts have raised over £3,000 for SAMH which operates two Nooks, offering free, walk-in, mental health support, in Glasgow and Aberdeen.

Speaking after completing his final marathon, Shaun said: “I took on this challenge to stay connected with my brother and I’ve been able to keep him with me every step along the way.

“As hard as the running has been, it’s nothing compared to what losing Chris was for our family, so if this has inspired just one conversation, one person to speak to their loved ones about their mental health, then it has all been worth it.

“It’s a final chapter for me to allow myself to lay him to rest. This is my time to understand he isn’t coming back. If I can make even a small difference that will help give me peace and that’s all I want, because it’s hard.

“Finishing at The Nook has been really important to me. It’s the kind of place I believe could have helped save my brother’s life. It removes some of the barriers people face when looking for mental health support.

“You can simply walk through the door, sit down and have a conversation with someone who wants to listen. You don’t need an appointment or a referral.”