In 2018 we were all devastated after the sad loss of one of our friends, colleague and brother to another marshal to suicide.

With motorsport being largely male orientated it's a concern that 75% of suicide are males and suicide is the highest single killer in men under 45 years old. Over 5 times higher than female suicide rates. In one year alone, suicide in males would fill 4 football staduims. Let that sink in.

After over a year of planning since I first suggested it to the directors of the club, in 2019 we embarked on an innovative support programme and secured places for over 90 volunteers to take part in a Mental health Awareness course. We also sent 11 of the senior leadership team, myself included on a two day Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training course (ASIST) making the Scottish Motor Racing Club the first club in the UK to not only have offered this training but the only motorsport club in the UK to have dedicated Suicide First Aiders.

Now, I am also organising a BBQ to fundraise and raise awareness for the marshals on the Saturday evening of the BTCC weekend at Knockhill to raise money for the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH). The SMRC are kindly providing the food and drinks for the BBQ, I have sourced and provided the BBQ and the attendee’s (40 plus) are to contribute and make a donation on the night.

As time has gone on and with a big recruitment drive for new volunteers thanks to Alan Barron and his team, we want to raise awareness again and that we are here for each individual to offer non-judgmental, confidential support and advice whilst raising as much money as we can for an amazing charity.

100% of all money raised will go to SAMH and it would really show the support for our volunteer workforce that help make the race meetings run smoothly.

This is a very personal charity for myself and the SMRC, so I personally want to raise as much as I can for such a deserving charity.

I will announce the total raised in a few weeks with an official hand over of donations to SAMH on the last SMRC club meeting of this season, 8th October with my partners who have already contributed a very generous amount.

Thank you