Epic 2,000-mile quest for mental health awareness

Drew Jonkmans described the challenge as "brutal"

An intrepid islander has endured injury and storms to reach the halfway mark on a 2,000-mile running and cycling challenge from Land's End to John O' Groats - and back - to boost mental health awareness.

Drew Jonkmans' challenge began as a bet dreamed up in a pub and he is making a film to show that "strength can come from deep places of struggle and that there is always hope".

The 26-year-old is raising funds for free mental health counselling for islanders through the bigmoose charity and he is also helping the Becoming X Foundation for disadvantaged young people.

He began to run to help his mental health, taking on the Guernsey ultramarathon and the Marathon Des Sables across the Sahara.

'Lowest point'

Mr Jonkmans said obstacles, including a tendon injury and Storm Amy in Scotland, had forced him to "roll with the punches".

He aimed to run 50 miles a day to John O'Groats and cycle 100 miles a day back but his injury forced him to adapt.

Mr Jonkmans said running had helped him with his own mental health challenges in the past four years.

"I was in the lowest point of my life [four years ago]," he said.

"I had no hope for my future and I wasn't proud of who I was.

"Through support, finding a love for ultra running and realising that our limits are set by nothing and nobody but ourselves I managed to turn things around."

'Really inspire'

His 30-day mission includes a side trip to Cardiff to visit bigmoose which provides mental health support.

"It's Guernsey's chance to tap into a national mental health charity," he said.

"We can bring immediate, free and very high-quality therapy to the island."

He said there were "limited resources" for mental health support on Guernsey and islanders often faced long waits or paying for support.

He is working with film-maker Ewan Champion-Smith to "really inspire people and create some really positive change within the island and further beyond".