A Cavan man is running from Donegal to Kerry barefoot to raise awareness of suicide and mental health this Christmas.
Stephen Reburn, 26, from Maudabawn set off from Letterkenny at 9am yesterday morning and will run the 440km to Kerry.
He decided to undertake the challenge to promote suicide awareness and the work that organisations such as Pieta House do.
"I have been to two funerals alone in recent times of young men who died by suicide. This can't be allowed to continue and something radical needs to be done," he said.
Mr Reburn, who has suffered with his own mental health, is also concerned about the impact the Covid-19 pandemic is having on people and in particular young people.
"The fact that we are going into another lockdown, I dread to think what might happen to such vulnerable people and what might be the outcome at the end of these lockdowns," he said.
He has been training for the challenge by running in his bare feet as well as river and lake diving.
"It is about getting used to being uncomfortable and endurance tests are a bit like life," he said.
Mr Reburn will pass through 55 towns and villages over the next few days.
This morning he left Ballyshannon in Co Donegal.
