Our lives were completely changed when we tragically lost our partner, friend and veterinary colleague, Kirsty, to suicide.

To everyone who knew Kirsty she was a force of nature. No job was either too big or small and she would go out her way to help others, sometimes to the detriment of herself. She was the first and only winner of consecutive employee of the month award at her place of work in the Scottish Borders.

In Kirsty’s memory, we, Chris, Maria, Mary and Callum, are cycling from Land's End (the southern most point on UK mainland) to John O'Groats (the northern most point on UK mainland) starting on the 23rd of September 2024. Along the way, we'll be talking to students at the vet schools en route and plan to reach John O'Groats by the 18th of October 2024.

Mental health can affect all of us. As vets, we know that those in the profession are between two- and four-times more at risk of dying by suicide than the general population. A study in the UK, found nearly 60% of vets had experienced work-related stress, anxiety or depression so severe that it required professional help.

We are raising funds for two vitally important mental health charities: Vetlife and The Canmore Trust. Two charities that will be there when you need them.

Vetlife (0303 040 2551)

Vetlife is a charity that provides free and confidential support to anyone in the UK veterinary community. This includes emotional, health, or financial problems.

The Canmore Trust (Text 'Canmore' to 85258)

The Canmore Trust is a charity that focuses on suicide prevention. They work with individuals, schools and colleges to create safe spaces and to help those who have been bereaved or impacted by suicide.

Our aim is not only to raise vital funds for these charities but, through sharing Kirsty's story, we hope to initiate conversations about our mental health and how suicide affects people.

We are keen for people to join us on parts of this adventure (follow 'Lejog Awareness' on Facebook for more information) and we would encourage you to donate to both amazing charities, if you can.

Ideally, we would like donations to be equally split between the charities at the end of this challenge. Thank you for your support.

#SuicideBreakingTheCycle

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