NOT many people would enlist themselves into a forty-two-kilometre marathon at the last minute, but that\u2019s exactly what Bendigo man Raymond Lee did last week.<\/p>\n
The tai chi instructor travelled to the state\u2019s capital last weekend for the Melbourne Marathon to honour a friend he lost to suicide 10 years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe always kept saying to me \u2018just go for a run\u2019 and I would say to him \u2018just do your tai chi\u2019,\u201d Mr Lee said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something to remember him by and I thought \u2018I\u2019ll do it for you now since it\u2019s been 10 years since you\u2019ve gone\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
After registering online, Mr Lee realised he could also start a fundraiser for a charity of his choice.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmong 75 charities, the first one that popped up was Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Upon reaching the finish line, Mr Lee raised almost $4500 and said he was overwhelmed by the generosity of his supporters, including work colleagues.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I put out that fundraising page, I attached it to our newsletter and immediately one of my students put in $1000,\u201d he said. \u201cI was so grateful I actually bawled my eyes out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the feedback I\u2019ve heard from my students, they all knew of someone who has experienced suicidal thoughts or knew someone that died by suicide.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something that we don\u2019t necessarily hear about a lot, but it happens.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome people may not be able to run, but I\u2019m doing it for them now.\u201d<\/p>\n