Runner honouring a lost friend, raising funds

Published date02 November 2021
Publication titleEnsign, The
After he graduated from university, Mr Brown was employed as a counsellor in a Christchurch school but enjoyed coming back south.

‘‘When he came to me he let his hair down,’’ Mr Letham said.

Three years ago when Mr Letham was going through a hard time, he asked Mr Brown for help.

Over many visits the pair talked for hours and spent time working out.

‘‘He put me through the ringer, opened my eyes back up.

‘‘Slowly but surely I managed to become level again.’’

The last time the family saw Mr Brown was in January, but there was no sign he was struggling with his mental health.

In hindsight ‘‘he came down to say goodbye’’.

Mr Letham decided to run 42km because his friend ran ultramarathons and also it would have been his 42nd birthday in December.

While he had always jogged, he had stepped up his training in the past three months.

Supporting Gumboot Friday, mental health initiative I Am Hope’s annual event to raise funds to provide counselling for young people, was one way he could repay his friend for the help he had given him.

‘‘I’m no brainiac but I know how to run.

‘‘The only way I can help is to run.’’

Mr Brown had worked with many people but young people had a special place in his heart.

‘‘He was about the kids.’’

It was important adults knew how to manage their own mental health as they were role models for children, Mr Letham said.

‘‘We need to make sure the kids are OK and then we need to make sure the adults are OK too.’’

Men in particular seemed to struggle with mental health issues, Miss Musson said.

‘‘There...

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