Ryan reaches landmark fundraising challenge for Arbroath mental health charity

Ryan Ramsay is taking on a triathlon every day for 30 days between June 23 and July 22 to mark his own 30th birthday and in memory of his brother Ross, who was 30 when he died through suicide in 2013. The same year Ryan’s family set up Reach Across, which now supports around 100 people on a weekly basis.

Ryan, who is a PE teacher at Inverurie Academy in Aberdeenshire, began his challenges to raise funds and awareness and has undertaken a different one every year. He even made it into the pages of the Guinness Book of Records when he and friend Lexi Ligeti broke the record for the greatest three-legged distance covered in 24 hours – 116 kilometres clocked up by completing 582 laps of a local car park.

This year he has managed to persuade family and friends to join in one final push to raise funds before he hangs up his running vest, as the physical demands have taken their toll over the years.

The schedule is also proving to be hectic, fitting in family and work life around his athletic activities, with 5am starts to complete a minimum of a 'sprint triathlon' everyday – a 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run.

“So far this challenge has been great but my body is now physically tired and the logistics haven’t been easy. It’s been tough these last two weeks in particular, trying to fit pool availability around me and my wife being at work and having two young daughters and a dog at home too.”

To round things off, Ryan has included both the Monikie and Forfar triathlons as part of his challenge.

He added: “What keeps me going is the fact my brother isn’t here and can’t do challenges like these.

"Although he wasn’t sporty that’s always in the back of my mind.

"I also often think about people who don’t have the physical ability to exercise and what they would give to have the chance to push themselves to the limits and that’s why I try to do what I do.”

Donations can be made at https://www.givey.com/30trisin30days