9:30am Friday 8th September 2006
By Tamsin Davis
A CHARITY event inspired by a suicidal Swindon man who turned his life around will be staged on Saturday.
It will be an early start for the participants of Threshold Housing Link's annual Run for Home challenge.
The 115-mile race will set off at 6am from the Houses of Parliament in London and will finish at about 6pm at the Arkells brewery in Swindon.
Ex-serviceman Andrew had hit rock bottom and was about to throw himself off Tower Bridge in London when a passer-by intervened.
Andrew was talked out of it and decided to walk the 115 miles back to Swindon to try to rebuild his life.
The Run for Home route follows Andrew's journey back to the town, along the Thames path to Reading, joining the Ridgeway path to Swindon.
Three teams of up to 14 people will be taking part, with the 115 miles split into 14 more manageable legs.
Teams from BT and Swindon Council will be running and biking the distance with breakfast at the start at Victoria Gardens, a barbecue at Pangbourne and a buffet party at Arkells.
The Swindon charity, which helps single, homeless people in the town, says it desperately needs the event to raise money to make up for a budget cut this year.
Cher Sawyer, Threshold's business development director, said: "We had our £65,000 funding cut from the budget this year and we have had to make staff redundant.
"We don't want to have to do that again next year.
"We have to get this money in or we may have to look at cutting services."
The record time for the challenge was set by the 47 Squadron at RAF Lyneham at 12hrs 42mins.
Last year the event raised more than £3,000.
Cher said: "One of our clients walked away from Swindon and his life here.
"He was considering suicide and was talked out of it so he walked all the way home.
"We are hoping to raise the same amount this year.
"We are hoping for good weather. It makes all the difference."
Brewery owner James Arkell is one of the charity's patrons and is laying on a social evening at the end of the challenge as a thank you to everyone involved.
Financial services firm Zurich, which has offices in Swindon, is also providing sponsorship.
Anyone who wants to take part in Run For Home should contact Cher or Phil Smith at Threshold on 01793 524661.
People who can pledge sponsorship should also get in touch.
Donations can also be made at www.justgiving.com/thl/donate
hometruths
THE inspiration for Run for Home came from an ex-serviceman from Swindon, who wants to be known only as Andrew.
He was jobless, homeless and contemplating suicide when a passer-by stopped and spoke to him on Tower Bridge in London where he was standing, deciding whether to jump.
The Good Samaritan managed to persuade Andrew that killing himself was not the answer and to return to Swindon to start again.
Thanks to this timely intervention Andrew chose to walk the 115 miles back home to Swindon, to try to sort his life out and give himself one more chance.
He went to Threshold for help and has now settled into a new life, with a new job and is very happy that he did not go through with his intentions that day in London.
People taking part in the event do so knowing that all proceeds from the race will go directly to the frontline work of helping single, homeless people in Swindon change their lives.
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