A MAN is running 21 ultra marathons to raise money for suicide charity after nearly taking his own life on two occasions.

Matt Bagwell, aged 52, will be running 1,050km across England in September for Calm (Campaign Against Living Miserably).

In the UK 125 people take their own lives a week and 75 per cent of them are men, Matt was almost one of them.

He had planned his own death twice, but instead asked for help and discovered tools such as running and breathwork to manage his depression.

The Argus: Matt Bagwell is running over 1,050km in September for suicide prevention charity.

Matt said: “Why am I doing this challenge? I’ve been there. I’ve literally stepped onto the edge, more than once. At the last minute, for love, for family, for a tiny glimmer of hope, I chose a different path.

"Now I want to share hope, because I know there are so many others across the country who are facing that same darkness.

"I want to raise funding for the professionals who save lives, every single day. When one life is saved, one person on the end of the phone paid for at Calm, then every step, every kilometre, every ultra will be worthwhile.”

Matt hopes to raise both awareness and £100k for suicide prevention charity through his event 'Run the Country Ultra'. The event coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10.

The Brighton based ultra-runner and breathwork coach will run 21 consecutive ultra marathons, which refers to a distance further than 26 miles.

The event starts in Cornwall on September 5 and crosses 43 county borders in England before finishing in London on October 5.

The Argus: Matt Bagwell is running over 1,050km in September for suicide prevention charity.

Matt is the dad of two teenage girls. He is a certified breathwork instructor and runs free classes on Instagram each week under the 'lovetolearnto' handle.

Earlier this year he saved a man who was suicidal on Brighton beach as he was teaching a live breathwork class on Instagram. He pulled the man out of the water and lay on him for body heat transfer whilst he called an ambulance.

Anna Jones, chief revenue officer, Calm said: "Matt is one of Calm's most dedicated supporters, and his ambitious plan to run the country in support of our life saving work is inspiring.

"His commitment to engaging with local communities and get them speaking about Calm is vital in our fight against suicide, and ensuring people live a life less miserable.

"Matt is self-funding his challenge, meaning that all money raised goes towards our helpline services."

She added: "Any financial contributions you can offer to enable him to do the challenge means that we can continue to be there for those that need us most, no matter what."

Run the Country Ultra will see Matt running through every county in England and there is an open invitation to people across England to join him on one of the 21 stages of the route.

The details of the routes can be found at www.runthecountryultra.com/run-the-country-ultra-join-in

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