Matt Hewson
Byron Lester will run for 24 hours in a fundraising effort for Beyond Blue at You Yangs Forest Park next weekend.
The 47-year-old Geelong resident, who has found distance running to be an effective way to manage his own mental health, said he wanted to give something back and make a difference in the lives of others.
“Running has helped me with my depression the last five years, and now I’d like to use my running not just to help myself, but to help others,” he said.
“I have the trails that help me, but not everyone can run for the distances I can.
“So it’s time to use that to raise money so Beyond Blue can get more counsellors, coaches and programs to help people identify when they have the warning signs.”
Byron, who will start his run at Toynes Carpark at 7am on Saturday, December 3, anticipates he will run nearly 180 kilometres over the 24 hour period.
“Back in July I did my own 200 kilometre run around the Barwon River, and I’ve run the 168 kilometre event in the You Yangs before,” he said.
“So I know I can usually go 30 hours without a break, so I might not have to, but if I do I can take a dirt nap.
“That’s where you basically take off your pack, go to the side of the path and put your pack on the ground and use it as a pillow.”
Byron said a critical part of suicide prevention was enabling people to speak up, which he had almost found out the hard way.
“I had a pivotal moment about three years ago, and at that point, I hadn’t told anyone I suffered from it, not my family or anyone,” he said.
“I nearly pulled out of an event, and I spoke to the race director, he was the first person I ever admitted it to.
“From there I posted online, admitting for the first time that I suffered from depression. It was important to voice it, not keep it in.
“I went on to finish the event, and I think if I hadn’t done that I might have succumbed and gone down another path.”
To support Byron’s campaign visit team-beyond-blue.raisely.com/byron-lester.
