Man completes 10 marathons in 10 days

A man whose mother once saved him from taking his own life has completed 10 marathons in 10 days in aid of a mental health charity.

Leigh Edwards, from Wolverhampton, said: "If this challenge gets one man to talk and it saves their life then it will have been worth it."

He started his 262-mile (422km) challenge at the city's Molineux Stadium and continued the journey through towns and cities like Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester and Liverpool.

"It was a personal challenge that involved so many people and, importantly, there has been so much talk about men's mental health," Mr Edwards said.

Despite suffering a torn meniscus and leg infections, he managed to complete his challenge, raising more than £7,000 for men's mental health charity Mandem Meetup.

Mr Edwards experienced auditory psychosis in 2019 and would often hear a voice in his head encouraging harmful thoughts.

At one point, he had planned to leave his house and take his own life but his mother, Tracey, saw "signs of pain" in him and stopped him at the door.

Mr Edwards, a quality assurance analyst, has since recovered and is receiving treatment.

He started the challenge at the home of Wolverhampton Wanderers on 1 June before taking in Tamworth, Derby, the Peak District, Manchester, Liverpool, Northwich, Stoke-on-Trent and the Wrekin.

Despite injuries and adverse weather conditions, he crossed the finish line at Bilbrook Junior Football Club in Wolverhampton on Tuesday, thanks to crew and ers-by giving him renewed momentum to continue.

"The cause was too important to stop, despite medical advice telling me not to continue," he said.

"The has been overwhelming, from people running marathons with me and making me meals even when they don't know me, to getting specialist massages and even a spell in a cryogenic chamber, all to make sure I completed it."

Mr Edwards now hopes to hit £10,000 in donations for the charity so it can expand its services.

"We're not stopping there, the conversation is about running the length of the country, but I'll have a few months off first," he added.

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