Leamington man is running 5k every day throughout lockdown to raise money for mental health charity

Luke Young is running the distance with a different person each time - abiding by current social distancing guidelines and meeting up with others rule - and on different routes around the town every evening.

He has set up a JustGiving fundraising page where supporters can follow his efforts and make donations to Mind.

Luke said: "With the second lockdown on its way, I thought doing my bit to help out MIND is the least I can do, especially as I know there is a lot of people out there struggling with their mental health.

"Unfortunately over the years I know people who committed suicide, the more recent one being a good friend of mine during the first lockdown and I do not want anybody to feel so low and alone that they feel they have to take their own life.

"Mind is a brilliant charity which I believe can help so many people.

"Hopefully, I can raise money to help support them helping people who are struggling."

Luke, a former runner at school who has admitted that he's not in peak physical condition at present, says running on each day of lockdown will be physically and mentally challenging for him.

But he is being spurred on by the support of others.

He said: "'I'm getting a lot of feedback from people who have run with me saying how it does help their own mental health which was amazing to hear.

"Running 5k every day of lockdown with no training and literally a dad body is going to be challenging physically and mentally but knowing I’m doing it for such a good cause will hopefully push me through to complete it."

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/luke-young9