A Scotsman is embarking on a special cycling challenge across the country to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention.
Josh Quigley, who is calling himself the Tartan Explorer, will start a cycling tour of 29 cities and towns on March 25.
Quigley, from Livingston, feels passionately about the cause having survived his own suicide attempt in May 2015.
Spurred on by the ‘second chance’ he has been given, he has decided to dedicate himself to helping others who suffer from mental health issues.
Mental health is a major health challenge in Scotland: one in three people are affected each year, with two people taking their own life every day across the country.
The Scottish arm of Quigley’s cycle tour is a warm up to his World Cycle Challenge, which starts in May 2016 and will see Quigley bike through six continents of the world, taking in over 80 countries.
Talking about his cycle challenge, Quigley said: “I decided to embark on this bike tour as I really want to inspire those who suffer with mental health issues and show that it is possible to bounce back and achieve something amazing.
“I want to take my message all over Scotland, and then the world, to get nations speaking about mental health, uniting together to help save lives.”
Quigley’s Scottish Tour starts in his hometown of Livingston and will see him on the road for 33 days, hosting 10 mental health awareness events across Scotland and sharing his story, prior to finishing the tour at Edinburgh Castle on April 26, where there will be a homecoming celebration with friends, family and supporters on the castle’s famous esplanade.
Since launching the movement in November 2015, Josh has made incredible progress; His video promoting the movement has been viewed almost 100,000 times. Through this and the positive media coverage he has received to date, Josh has had thousands of messages worldwide thanking him for his help and inspiration in their own mental health battles.
Itinerary of Josh’s Scottish Cycle:
Friday 25th March - North Berwick
Saturday 26th March - Kelso
Sunday 27th March - Hawick
Monday 28th March - Gretna Green
Tuesday 29th March - Dumfries
Wednesday 30th March - Newton Stewart
Thursday 31st March - Ayr
Friday 1st April - Glasgow
Saturday 2nd April - Glasgow
Sunday 3rd April - Inverarary
Monday 4th April - Oban
Tuesday 5th April - Fort William
Wednesday 6th April - Foyers
Thursday 7th April - Inverness
Friday 8th April - Inverness
Saturday 9th April - Applecross
Sunday 10th April - Poolewe
Monday 11th April - Ullapool
Tuesday 12 April - Stornoway and Harris
Wednesday 13th April - Scouriemore
Thursday 14th April - Tongue
Friday 15th April - John O’Groats
Saturday 16th April - Helmsdale
Sunday 17th April - Tain
Monday 18th April - Nairn
Tuesday 19th April - Whitehills
Wednesday 20th April - Peterhead
Thursday 21st April - Aberdeen
Friday 22nd April - Dundee
Saturday 23rd April - St Andrews
Sunday 24th April - St Andrews
Monday 25th April - South Queensferry
Tuesday 26th April - Edinburgh