Eight days, 230 miles: Queen’s student on an epic run for AWARE NI

Matthew Armstrong set off from Londonderry on Sunday, August 30, covering between 25 and 30 miles a day. By the time he reaches Warrenpoint, he will have completed roughly 230 miles - the equivalent of almost nine marathons in just over a week.

Even before taking his first step, Matthew’s challenge had already resonated with supporters.

More than £3,800 has been raised so far, smashing his original £2,000 target and putting him well on track to reach his new £4,000 goal.

For Matthew, the run is about far more than distance. After seeing friends and family struggle in silence, he hopes his challenge will encourage more people to speak openly about their mental health.

“I’ve had friends and family open up to me about what they’ve been going through, and I had no idea because they’d hidden their problems,” he said.

“That’s what so many people do. I want people to be more open and know it’s normal not to be okay. It just has to be dealt with properly.”

The idea first came to him last year, but it wasn’t until he began learning more about the importance of talking openly that he decided to make it happen.

“Throughout this year I started to learn more about the importance of being open. It’s so much better to get it out than bottle it up.

"My mum has been a huge influence because she works as a life coach.

"The coast run came back to mind, and I decided to make it happen for AWARE NI. I may not get a chance to try something like this again.”

Choosing AWARE NI felt natural. “Its message was one I could really get behind. Its resources are accessible, and I knew the money raised would be put to great use.”

Although Matthew has completed long‑distance runs before, nothing compares to this challenge.

“I really enjoyed the training, but I have no idea what it’s going to feel like. I don’t know how my body or mind will cope, but that’s part of the challenge. As much as I’m looking forward to it, I’ll probably be happiest when I reach Warrenpoint.”

While he hopes to surpass his fundraising target, Matthew says the real success would be encouraging more people to start conversations.

“Any money raised is great. More than anything, I want people to hear about this and take the message seriously — that it really is okay to talk.”

Margaret McCrossan, community and events officer at AWARE NI, said the charity is “incredibly grateful” for Matthew’s extraordinary effort, which helps keep vital peer support groups running across Northern Ireland.

To support Matthew’s challenge or donate, visit www.justgiving.com/page/matthewarmstrong.