Solihull man running seven marathons in seven days for mental health charity
Siblings Tony and Nicola Taylor are taking on the challenge in memory of their late father
Last updated 17th May 2024
A Solihull man is taking on seven marathons in seven days during Mental Health Awareness Week (13 May-19 May), in honour of his "beloved" dad.
64-year-old Ian Taylor took his own life during lockdown - shocking his family who described him as a happy, outgoing person.
His wife and children, Tony and Nicola, said they were beyond devastated and baffled, because Ian had never suffered from any depression that they knew of.
Tony Taylor, a process scientist at Severn Trent in Warwickshire, says it was a big shock to the family.
He said: “Dad was happy, outgoing and sociable and with no signs of any mental health issues. He loved life.
“He was of the generation who just got on with things when times get tough. He didn’t tell anyone how he was feeling and must have suffered in silence.”
Recalling the events, he said: “Mum called me when Dad did not return and I drove down to look for him but could not find him. In the end, police said it would be better if we waited at home. Hours later they called at the house, sat us down and told us they had found Dad at Box Hill in Surrey. He and mum had both loved the place as kids, we’d been there as a family too.
“I was in a state of disbelief. I remember hoping the police had got it wrong, that it was someone else in a similar car, not that I wished that on anyone. But after it sinks in you feel powerless. Was there something I could have done to help, should I have noticed a change in his behaviour.
“But there were no changes in behaviour, no signs. He was even planning a holiday to the Norfolk Broads with mum – you wouldn’t think someone planning that would do this.”
Tony and his sister Nicola are now running almost 300km along the famous Thames Path, hoping to finish before Sunday (19 May).
The siblings have already raised over £2000 for the charity MIND.