Dungiven runner raises £5,700 for men’s mental health in memory of Eugene

Dungiven runner, James Higgins, has raised an astonishing £5,700 for LIPS charity, by running the Battersea Park Half Marathon in memory of his friend Eugene O’Kane on his first anniversary.

James chose to undertake the fundraiser to raise both awareness and money to support men’s mental health and in celebration of the life of a special Dungiven resident.

His fundraiser included competing in both the Belfast ‘Run in the Dark’ 10k race on Wednesday November 13 and the Battersea Park Half Marathon on Saturday November 23.

James explained why he chose to undertake this challenge and why men’s mental health was such a prominent cause for him:

“I had been thinking of doing this for a while approaching Eugene's first anniversary of his passing - just as a gesture of his remembrance really.

“In all honestly, it initially had taken me out of my comfort zone a bit as I've never done something like this before, so there was a bit of nerves, but I always have had great admiration for people before me that have done this kind of thing for worthy causes and I believed that this cause was more than worthy.

“The statistics around male suicide are fairly alarming in today’s world and statistics might seem a bit static and un-nerving to people until it arrives unexpectedly in front of you - as a family member or partner, or near you as friend or acquaintance.

“I think Eugene covered all four of those categories and more.

“He had a big family, a partner, big group of friends and big community of people who knew him and had great time for him;

“Growing up Eugene lived over the road, and I was in his company a lot back then through acquaintances and pints as most young lads do.

“After a couple of Saturday pint sessions in the town, he soon become a friend and someone I'd a lot of time for.

“It’s easy to say these things in hindsight but I don't know anyone who has ever had a bad word on him.

“He was just a real good lad, easy company and always asked how you and anyone belonging to you were getting on - that's the kind of people you want to be around.

“When I learnt of his passing this time last year, I was sad and gutted about what happened, as the feeling of a friend and someone who knew him.

“My own family have also been affected by suicide in the same circumstances and I know its effect doesn’t just disappear someday down the line.

“In so, when I reached out to Eugene's sister Laura about my idea of a fundraiser in Memory of Euge, and she mentioned the great work of LIPS and the appreciation her family had for LIPS, it made my decision a penalty kick.

ABOVE: THE LATE EUGENE O'KANE.

“I'm privileged and healthy enough to be able to do something like this but for those that are not, LIPS are the experts there and help tackle those consequent issues.

“If the fundraiser helps serve as a solace for Eugene's family in how high a regard Eugene was held in around Dungiven, shows how much he is missed by his friends, and the funds raised contribute to LIPS continuing their great work in helping more families and individuals in crisis, then that'll be good enough for me.”

Limavady Initiative for the Prevention of Suicide (LIPS) are a local charity who help support individuals and families in the community who are in crisis or impacted by suicide through prevention, intervention and postvention mechanisms.

James originally planned to run the full marathon but the preparation was challenging as he wrestled with a back injury during his training and was forced to switch to plan B, the Belfast 10k and half marathon.

Disaster set in just before the half marathon, with James’ old back injury flaring up again but he managed to battle through and completed both races with a personal best.

He described his emotions at completing the fundraiser:

“The 21km was tough physically and mentally.

“There's no respite when you're chasing down a time - for me it was 1hr 35 mins and I managed to come home in 1hr 34 mins, so I was delighted and got some buzz off that.

“I’d love to say it was as 'handy' as Euge described it but it was tight going!

“I had received a lot of messages of support leading up to both races and I found that fairly strange, as running is an independent sport; It’s you versus you, there is nobody making you do it.

“But when it was getting tough around mile 9 to the finish, I definitely kept all that support in my head to keep me driving on when the legs were probably asking for a break.”

After recovery, James plans to go back into training for another marathon next Spring and is delighted that his running challenge has reached and touched many across the community.

He has been overwhelmed by the generosity of the community in donating to his fundraiser and describes the experience as ‘mental’!

ABOVE: JAMES TAKING PART IN HIS FUNDRAISING CHALLENGE.

He said: “Honestly, when I set out with this initiative, it was only a gesture to Eugene's family in that we all still have Eugene very much on our minds a year later - but it just took off.

“My family, partner Louise, and group of friends have all been brilliant in supporting me.

“Whether that be sharing my fundraiser on socials, donations, messages of support, or in Louise's case - travelling each mile with me.

“On a broader scale, the support of the whole Dungiven community, and the Dungiven in Oz contingents have been instrumental in raising over £5000.

“I genuinely did not expect the support that I have received.

“People’s generosity is a testament to themselves and their families, and I can’t thank everyone enough.

“There is a great community of people from Dungiven, and it is great to see what can be done, when it’s done collectively.

“I'm very proud of that and I'll hold onto it for a long time.”