Run to remember a friend

NOT many people would enlist themselves into a forty-two-kilometre marathon at the last minute, but that’s exactly what Bendigo man Raymond Lee did last week.

The tai chi instructor travelled to the state’s capital last weekend for the Melbourne Marathon to honour a friend he lost to suicide 10 years ago.

“He always kept saying to me ‘just go for a run’ and I would say to him ‘just do your tai chi’,” Mr Lee said.

“It’s something to remember him by and I thought ‘I’ll do it for you now since it’s been 10 years since you’ve gone’.”

After registering online, Mr Lee realised he could also start a fundraiser for a charity of his choice.

“Among 75 charities, the first one that popped up was Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation,” he said.

Upon reaching the finish line, Mr Lee raised almost $4500 and said he was overwhelmed by the generosity of his supporters, including work colleagues.

“When I put out that fundraising page, I attached it to our newsletter and immediately one of my students put in $1000,” he said. “I was so grateful I actually bawled my eyes out.”

“From the feedback I’ve heard from my students, they all knew of someone who has experienced suicidal thoughts or knew someone that died by suicide.

“It’s something that we don’t necessarily hear about a lot, but it happens.

“Some people may not be able to run, but I’m doing it for them now.”

If you need mental health support, visit beyondblue.org.au or call their 24/7 hotline on 1300 22 4636. You can also visit lifeline.org.au or call them on 13 11 14 and help for young people is available at kidshelpline.com.au or by calling them on 1800 55 1800.