The Race Across Scotland is a 215 miles course that (unsurprisingly) covers the width of the country, with over 7,000 metres in ascent. To complete it, competitors must finish within 100 hours, which works out to 4 days and 4 hours.

I’ll be one of 150 participants on the race startline at 6am on Saturday 12th August. Starting in the village of Portpatrick, on the west coast, I will have 100 hours to cover the entirety of the South Upland Way to get across to Cockburnspath on the east coast. I’ll be running, walking - and if experience is anything to go by – crawling my way there, grabbing sleep and food when I can at check points and village halls along the way.

I’ve taken on and completed some pretty daunting races before – Al Andalus Ultimate Trail in 2017, Deadwater in 2018, Cape Wrath Ultra in 2021 to name a few - but never this much mileage in as short a time as the Race Across Scotland. This race makes me feel nervous in a way that others haven’t – maybe it’s the fact that I’ll have to be moving at a pace of at least a double marathon per day, or the thought of such little rest time, but I know this race is going to push me to my absolute limit – and I can’t wait.

For this race, I couldn’t be proud, or more motivated, to be fundraising for London Friend, and their Antidote Drugs and Alcohol Support service.

London Friend, established in 1972, are the UK’s oldest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans charity, looking to support the health and mental wellbeing of the LGBT community in and around London.

The work they do really matters to me as I know the impact it can have. Research has found that LGBTQ+ people have an increased risk of depression and anxiety, substance abuse, self-harming and suicidal thoughts compared to heterosexual people.

As a gay man, who is on track to be 3.5 years sober on that race startline in August, it means a lot to raise funds for a charity who through their work are doing so much to help support LGBTQ+ wellbeing and mental health through services including

• Counselling

• Antidote Drug and Alcohol Support

• Social and Support Groups offering members of the community a range of opportunities through which to connect with each other.

• Volunteering Opportunities

• Resources and training for professionals

It would be amazing if you’d consider sponsoring my run – any amount of money will make a huge difference for an amazing cause, and also in motivating me to get to that finish line in under 100 hours.