Tom Keys-Toyer, a 51-year-old, from Backwell, Bristol, is embarking on a gruelling 630-mile running challenge along the South West Coastal Path (SWCP) as a tribute to his middle son, Sam, who was tragically lost in 2020, aged just 17.
Tom’s challenge will raise awareness and funds for mental health support in boys and young men through Boys in Mind, a Bath-based Charity, which works to challenge the stigma around mental health in boys and young men. The challenge will see Tom (pictured above in green) run approximately 26 miles a day, six days a week for four weeks.
Tom’s journey will begin in Minehead, Somerset, running the coastline of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall to conclude in Poole, Dorset.
“Running the 630 miles of SWCP is a tribute from me to Sam,” Tom shared. “Whilst Sam is no longer with us, we will always remember how caring and thoughtful he was and his uncanny knack of recognizing when someone was struggling or just needed help. He always wanted to go out of his way to give his support or just a silent nod ‘I’m here if you need me.’ Boys in Mind is a charity that Sam would have got right behind if he was still with us. I can do that for him…”
“It is so important to tackle mental health head on and to pro-actively give youngsters the skills to recognize when they are feeling down, being prepared to show some vulnerability and to ask for help and knowing how to talk about how they are feeling.
“This is what Boys in Mind does and I want to raise as much as I can so that they can carry on with their essential work.”
Tom has chosen Boys in Mind, a Bath-based charity dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and support for boys and young men, as the beneficiary of his fundraising efforts. He has set a target of £10,000 to be raised through the challenge.
Tom’s journey can be followed on Instagram @running630forsam.
Donations can be made at https://app.goodhub.com/swcp