To mark his 27^th birthday, Maciek will be running 27 marathons in one year for FDAMH.

Starting on 28^th November, Maciek will begin his challenge. To ensure he can run all 27 marathons within the year, Maciek will need to run one marathon every two weeks!! He will be running some official marathons across the UK, however, the majority of it will be ran on his own.

Ian Dickson, CEO of FDAMH, said:

“Maciek is undertaking a massive challenge. The commitment, physical and mental strength, not to mention the significant amount of time that it will take to complete 27 marathons in 1 year, is hard to express in words. We will do everything we can to help him along the way and I hope that many people in the community also support him, which will help give him the encouragement and motivation to complete this incredible challenge.”

We caught up with Maciek to find out a bit more about his challenge…

What made you decide to do Challenge 27?

Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic I’ve became increasingly passionate about running. I have always thought of the age 27 as a time where I want to set myself a goal and achieve something extravagant. By doing so, I wanted to raise money and give back to a cause close to my heart. 

Why did you choose to raise money for FDAMH?

The issue of mental health is a greatly important topic in my life. Every day I notice an increasing number of people who struggle with their mental health. My lovely wife Siobhan is a Mental Health Practitioner at FDAMH, she provides her services to young adults in the Falkirk and districts area. The young person’s service which she is a part of has provided help to a countless number of people. I believe that early intervention is the key to a better future for those young people, this is why I want to do everything in my power to give back to this fantastic charity. 

Do you think it is important to speak openly about mental health?

I think that it is incredibly important to speak openly about mental health. I have been very fortunate to be able to speak to my wife in times of need. A simple conversation may be enough to release a great amount of pain that someone is experiencing. In the words of Siobhan ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’. 

Unfortunately, some people don’t have a close person in their life with whom they feel comfortable sharing their problems with. This is where FDAMH and the young person’s service provide a Mental Health Practitioner. People in need are able to have a confidential conversation and begin their journey to a better life. This is what makes FDAMH such an incredible charity. 

And lastly, how are you feeling about taking on this challenge?

Running 27 Marathons is beyond something I can imagine. This challenge will hopefully signify the struggle that young people go through. It is common for people who struggle not to be able to imagine getting better. Taking that first step in my first marathon will represent taking the first step in getting help and that is ‘reaching out’. Getting better is a marathon and not a sprint. It is important for those in need to have longevity. By completing ‘Challenge 27’ I hope to bring attention to this very important matter. 

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We are so grateful that Maciek has decided to donate all funds raised to FDAMH and further raise awareness for mental health within our local community. We would like to say a huge thank you and good luck to Maciek, we can’t wait to follow him along on his journey over the next year.

If you would like to donate to Maciek’s challenge, please CLICK HERE. Your donation will help FDAMH to assist, enable, educate and support people and their families experiencing the impact of mental illness.