Four friends from Stirling are set to undertake a grueling six-day trek along the West Highland Way to raise awareness and funds for men's mental health. The quartet, all pupils at Stirling High School, will tackle the 96-mile route from Milngavie to Fort William next month.
The Challenge
Ewan McLean, Elliott Gair (both 16), Ryan Robertson, and Ross Coan (both 17) are raising money for CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), a charity dedicated to preventing suicide and supporting those struggling with mental health. The idea for the challenge emerged from conversations among the friends, who are passionate about the cause.
Ewan McLean told the Observer: "It was something that we had discussed as friends and then the idea of doing it for mental health just grew from there. It's been all about planning it out since then, setting up a fundraiser and spreading the word around the school."
The group plans to complete the trek in six days and five nights, wild camping along the way. They have been training hard, including a recent 35,000-step hike from Cambusbarron up Dumyat and back. "We're all really up for it; we all like to do some camping and hiking," Ewan added.
Community Support
The fundraiser has already exceeded its initial £500 target, thanks to support from teachers and the local community. Ewan emphasized the importance of the cause: "Mental health is such an important issue not just for young men, but affects so many people who don't want to speak out about it. There was a suicide in my village and it was a real motivator for me - you hear if people are just able to talk to others, then it might not happen so that's what it is all about."
To donate to the friends' fundraiser, visit justgiving.com/page/ross-coan-2.
