These boys are virtually running to every Premier League stadium

As if medics aren’t doing enough already this crisis, the boys from Sheffield Medics FC are running 1205km – the equivalent to visiting every Premier League stadium – to raise money for mental health charity SToRMS.

They started in Newcastle at St. James’ Park on Monday, and aim to finish in Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium within a week.

The team will each virtually run a section of the distance from home, and one member has managed an incredible 66km in three days.

It’s all in the name of mental health charity SToRMS, whose mission is to prevent male suicide, promote good mental health, and give support to men suffering from mental health issues.

They also aim to challenge gender stereotypes which prevent men from asking for help and highlight the uneasy relationship between alcohol and well-being.

The route they’re taking on the long trip

They told The Tab Sheffield: “SToRMS is a particularly poignant choice as one of our former players unfortunately lost his life to suicide a few years ago.

“The charity was set up by a GP much of the club know in Sheffield. He lost his son, Dan McAllister, when he unexpectedly took his own life aged nineteen.”

You can follow their efforts live on @sheffieldmedicsfc insta

“There have been lots of charity fundraisers from university sports teams running for the NHS is this time of crisis. However, I haven’t seen many initiatives for mental health charities and I think that during lockdown this is such an important area to discuss.

“It shocked us as a club how common suicide is in the UK, how little it is discussed and how little is done to prepare our young people to cope with life’s challenges and to avoid reaching this point.”

So far, they’ve raised £1045 of their £1205 target. To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sheffield-medics-fc-smfc.