Drew Jonkmans began his challenge – dubbed Project Endure – last month, having been inspired to undertake it following past struggles with his mental health. He has managed to raise more than £5,700 for two charities he has partnered with – mental health charity bigmoose and BecomingX Foundation, a charity which supports young people in disadvantaged communities.
‘I want to highlight the support that’s out there for those struggling with their mental health, but also encourage people to realise their own capabilities,’ he said.
Mr Jonkmans reached his halfway point at John O’Groats a few days ago, and was passing the outskirts of Edinburgh yesterday as he makes his way back down the UK.
He had initially aimed to run the entire first half of the challenge before cycling back, but an injury to a tendon in his left leg – sustained on just his second day of running – meant he had to hop on his bike earlier than planned.
‘I did it down in Devon on what was probably the hardest day of the whole challenge so far, there was more than 5,000ft of elevation that day,’ he said. ‘If I run up or down hills it can be quite painful, but to be honest it’s recovered well and I’ve been able to give my leg a bit of a breather when I’ve been on the bike.’
He has been undertaking long days on the move, getting up as early as 6am and not stopping until 9pm on some occasions.
His longest single day of running so far in terms of distance saw him cover 55 miles, while he managed 110 miles of cycling on another day. And if continuing to put one foot in front of the other was not mentally and physically challenging enough, Mr Jonkmans had to contend with inclement weather when Storm Amy hit as he was making his way up through Scotland last week. ‘I had been cycling for most of the day and had just started running again when the wind began to hit,’ he said.
‘Trees were down all around me and at times I was running through knee-high water. It had the potential to be really difficult but I was in quite high spirits as I was pleased to be back running, so it actually came at a good point.’
He added the ever-changing scenery along his route had been a welcome distraction from his trials and tribulations. ‘Some of the places I’ve been through have been stunning.’ An Instagram page dedicated to Mr Jonkmans’ exploits has gained more than 500 followers, while a website allows users to track where he is on his route and, if they so wish, join him for a section of the challenge.
Mr Jonkmans is aiming to have run and cycled 1,000 miles each by the end of his journey. ‘Ultimately I hope this inspires people to realise that they really can do anything if they set their mind to it,’ he said.
‘Running saved me in many ways and this project is a way of demonstrating how powerful the mind can be.’
Mr Jonkmans can be followed on Instagram @drewkeepsrunning, while donations to his chosen charities can be made via his website www.projectendure.co.uk, where his progress can also be tracked.
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