Sam from Glasgow recently took on the extreme challenge of raising funds for Lifelink, a mental health and wellbeing charity based in Scotland. In one day, he set about conquering his fears and hitting three milestones: skydiving, running two back-to-back marathons, and boxing.
Speaking of his motivation for the challenge, Sam said, “I’ve always been the opportunity-grabbing type of person. Ideas inspire me and I can take most things into my own hands. The biggest downside to that is that I’ve always done it.” I was aware of the lack of progress I was making because I was jumping from idea to idea. The feeling of changing direction so often that I was basically stagnant was frustrating and had led me to a mental dead end many times in life.”
Although bad weather forced him to postpone the skydive until a few weeks later, Sam eventually managed to complete all three challenges and collect £2,000 (and counting!). We spoke to Sam about that long, tough day in March, which started with his canceled skydive and ended after a double marathon in a Glasgow boxing ring.
Was there a point in the day when you were on the verge of quitting or when you had to really dig deep to keep going?
“I drove hard into a wall with 17 km to go! It was the third wall that day, but this one was different. This hurt a lot worse. My body had nothing more to give. At that point, I really knew I had to dig deep. Kyle, my pacer for that part of the race, kicked in right away and slowed down so I could just keep my head down, follow him in sync and mentally pull myself out of the pain. I have to thank everyone for the encouraging messages on the donation page and through direct messages. This news helped me a lot to get through the difficult times. The support team at the refreshment stations and also the support runners. I couldn’t have done it without all of you.”
Obviously when raising money for mental health you need to see a link between good mental wellbeing and sport/exercise – what does that link mean to you?
“100%. In my deepest moments, there’s always a direct connection that stems from my neglecting my physical well-being. Sometimes the neglect comes first and leads to a dip in psychological well-being, sometimes it’s the consequence of a dip It took me a very long time to see this connection, but now my first step is to clarify these basics whenever I notice a negative vibe.
I think running is incredibly good for mental well-being. It’s meditative. It’s a form of therapy in itself. If I feel stuck, I can just put on a pair of sneakers and let my mind wander until the situation feels less compelling.”
How important was it for the support team around you to help and walk with you that day?
“It was vital that the support team was waiting for me at the aid stations along the route with water and food. Obviously I had to eat quite a lot over a 10 hour period, so it had to be a lot of very quick snacks. The pacemakers and support runners were also decisive. Seeing the new faces come and go along the way kept my spirits high too. All of these people sacrificed so much through my preparation and on that day to make this possible.”
How did it feel when everyone at Glasgow’s Riverside Museum cheered for you as you crossed the finish line?
“It was an incredible feeling. I actually didn’t know most of them would be there. The surprise coupled with the feeling of having achieved something actually touched me very emotionally. I was so proud of myself and it meant the world to have those closest to me to celebrate and congratulate me. I will never forget this feeling. Probably the best high of my life so far.”
Lifelink recognized Sam’s fundraising efforts and thanked him for his support and dedication. “We are incredibly grateful to Sam for his fundraising efforts and for raising awareness of our work,” said Jacqui Taylor, CEO of Lifelink. “The funds raised will make a real difference in the lives of people in Glasgow who are struggling with their mental health and we cannot thank Sam enough for his support.”
You can learn more about Lifelink and access its free counseling and healthcare services at www.lifelink.org.uk.
Sam’s fundraising page is still online until the 4thth
June at https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/fundraising/koba-x-lifelink.
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