A standout effort in this weekend’s city marathon will be one man who will be wearing a full suit of metal armour to raise money for a national mental health charity.
Jay Watt, who works as a paramedic in the capital, will take to the streets on Sunday for his 20th Edinburgh Marathon wearing a custom suit built with the help of Scottish blacksmith, Kev Paxton.
He has been raising money through sponsored runs since 2011, each year donning a new costume.
Previous outfits have included Buzz Lightyear, an alien, and a bunny suit, with past fundraising efforts benefiting charities including The Yard and the Teenage Cancer Trust.
This year he has chosen to run for Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) which has operated since 1923 and runs over 70 services across Scotland, providing mental health social care support for adults and young people. Charity Choice
Jay, who said his work as a paramedic had brought him into contact with patients struggling with their mental health, wanted to use the challenge to tackle stigma around the issue.
“In my job, I have encountered patients struggling with their mental health, so this year I wanted to raise awareness of the support SAMH give and raise money to help them continue their important work.
“This is my 20th marathon, and I’ve run in big mascot costumes before, but this year I wanted to break through the stigma of mental health and let people know it’s okay to have a chink in your armour.”
Kev Paxton adjusted the suit to allow Watt to take part in a range of activities in the armour ahead of the race, including skiing, boxing, and kayaking.
Jay added: “Kev has helped me adjust the suit so I can do these activities in it and raise as much awareness as I can.
“By taking part in these sports and fitness activities, I am looking to encourage a positive vibe about mental health and encouraging people to reach out.”
The Edinburgh Marathon is the second largest in the UK outside London and has been voted the fastest marathon in the country. This year’s full marathon starts at 10am on Sunday at Potterrow.
Donations can be made via Jay’s fundraising page.
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