Big-hearted cyclist and football fan, Gary Strachan, has completed the challenge of cycling around all 42 Scottish Premier Football League clubs, raising over £4,000 for Samaritans.
Gary Strachan has raised over £4,000 for Samaritans by completing his challenge of cycling round all 42 of Scotland's professional football clubs.
As well as raising vital funds for the charity, Gary’s challenge has also helped to highlight suicide prevention work in local communities across the length and breadth of Scotland.
Kicking off on the 20th July from Annan Athletic’s Galabank Stadium, and finishing at Ross County’s Global Energy Stadium at Victoria Park on the 26th July, Gary built his route around all 42 professional football clubs in Scotland.
We sat down with Gary to find out more about his challenge and why he chose to do this for Samaritans. He told us there was no ‘personal story’, as such, but only a deep care for those affected by suicide and a determination to do something to help.
“I recently saw a statistic that every 90 minutes, someone in the UK dies by suicide. It’s the duration of a football match, and it’s hard to comprehend that every time we stand in the stadium at the final whistle, either cheering for a win or feeling disappointed at a loss, someone somewhere is going through such deep pain that they feel that ending their life is the only option they have left.
“I just wanted to do something to help.”
It’s hard to comprehend that every time we stand in the stadium at the final whistle, either cheering for a win or feeling disappointed at a loss, someone somewhere is going through such deep pain that they feel that ending their life is the only option they have left.
Talking about the challenge itself, Gary said, “It was tough going and there was a lot of time spent alone. Once I start something, I’ve got to finish it and that’s what kept me going.
“Football has always been a huge part of my life. It’s always been much more than ‘just a game’. It gives so many of us a vital 90-minute break from the pressures of everyday life.
“In the same way, cycling has become an important outlet for me, offering huge benefits for my mental health as well as my physical health.
“By combining the two, I wanted to highlight how sport, in all its forms, can play a crucial role in supporting our wellbeing. This challenge is about more than just endurance. It’s about sparking conversations, breaking stigma, and reminding people that it’s okay to ask for help.”
I wanted to highlight how sport, in all its forms, can play a crucial role in supporting our wellbeing. This challenge is about more than just endurance. It’s about sparking conversations, breaking stigma, and reminding people that it’s okay to ask for help
On the highlights of the journey, Gary said, “As a Rangers FC supporter myself, getting into Ibrox was massive for me. I was delighted when the Charity Foundation got back to me and arranged for me to get in. I got pitch side, into the press room and the home dressing room - which was amazing!”
Raising over £4,000 for Samaritans, the journey taken is so much more than a test of strength and fitness. Each mile covered, and each stadium visited has helped to shine a light on the work of Samaritans and the volunteers that provide a listening ear to those who feel they have nowhere else left to turn.
Samaritans is the charity that prevents suicide through the power of human connection. Connecting people in crisis with trained volunteers who will always listen. We rely on donations from the public and fundraisers like Gary to keep our service going, and to allow us to be there for people in some of their darkest moments. If you’re interested in fundraising for Samaritans, visit Find a charity fundraising event | Samaritans.
If you’d like to donate to Gary’s fundraiser, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/cycle42.
Samaritans can be contacted any time, from any phone, free on 116 123, or visit samaritans.org for more information. Details of other services and more information can be found on NHS Inform here.