A PONTYCLUN man is preparing to run six ultra-marathons in six consecutive days to raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention.
Will Fraser-Coombe, who once faced homelessness and attempted suicide in 2020, will run more than 230 miles with over 8,000 metres of elevation – surpassing the length of Wales and the height of Mount Everest – to raise money for the mental health charity Sport in Mind.
The endurance challenge will take place between 29th and 31st July, with Will aiming to raise £6,069 — representing each of the lives lost to suicide in the UK last year.
He said: “This is a huge challenge that has taken dedication. The training alone has pushed me beyond what I thought I was capable of. Every mile I run is for someone who didn’t make it — for someone who felt like there was no way out.
“If this challenge helps Sport in Mind offer more support here in Wales, and helps even one person feel seen, heard or supported, it will have been worth it.”
Wales has the second-highest suicide rate in the UK, with 14 suicides per 100,000 people. Welsh men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women, highlighting the urgent need for local support services.
Sport in Mind delivers free physical activity sessions designed to support people struggling with mental health. In Wales, current sessions are held in Abergavenny, Newport, Ebbw Vale, Caerphilly and Cardiff, with hopes to expand further thanks to fundraising efforts like Will’s.
Ahead of the ultra-marathons, Will is also taking part in the ‘10-y-Fan’ challenge on 14th June – which involves running up and down Pen-y-Fan ten times in one day as part of his wider training plan.
Neil Harris, CEO of Sport in Mind, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Will for taking on such a monumental challenge in support of our work. His story is a powerful reminder that recovery is possible and that physical activity can play a vital role in that journey.”
For more information about Sport in Mind, or to support Will’s fundraiser, visit: www.sportinmind.org
