Supporter Paul Pellow explains why he’s running and raising some cash for CALM:

I first became aware of CALM when I was about 18 and I worked on the bar for a launch party they held in Liverpool; the t-shirt I was given to wear saw me through my most scruffy days at university. Aside from outfitting my student years, I came to appreciate the great work CALM do amidst a fairly unrecognised section of society.

This appreciation became more poignant after I’d graduated when one of my peers from my school days committed suicide. As the first funeral I’d ever actually been to, I was staggered at how many people were there. How could this popular young man in his early twenties, with so much going for him, feel his life was not worth living? Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. As a spritely man of 25, I am now slap bang in the middle of a 20 year demographic where suicide is the biggest killer.

So, to the here and now… Whilst CALM endeavours to help young men address their inner demons, I too am about to address one of mine – running. Whilst I am not completely shy of exercise, I am desperately hopeless at road running. In order to overcome this I have mercilessly decided to sign up for the Liverpool 10km Tunnel Run on June 12^th.

“10km??” I hear you scoff! Marathon though it is not, my incompatible frame and severe lack of coordination will ensure a miracle if I can run this race in a straight-line – let alone finish! However, for the great work CALM does and the potential dosh raised, I am determined to complete within a respectable time and in one piece – fingers crossed!

You can back Paul’s efforts here: http://www.justgiving.com/Paul-Pellow