Meath man who had Covid 19 meltdown runs charity marathon around house
A Meath man who believes running saved his life has completed the 'toughest' marathon he has ever ran in aid of mental health - around his house.
Stephen Dever organised the charity marathon after turning to friends to help him get through a 'meltdown' over the current Covid-19 emergency.
Joining an athletic club turned the Kells man's life around and gave him the confidence to ditch the drink and shed almost nine stone in weight.
Now in lockdown, the 44-year-old completed a marathon on Saturday around his home in over five hours to raise funds for Pieta House.
"I was running every day within the 2km radius and decided to do something for a charity that is close to my heart. I've never needed Pieta House but I have struggled with depression and mental health over the years and it would be a charity that would suffer because of this economic downturn.
It was the toughest marathon I have ever ran because it was just running around the house again and again. I couldn't get a momentum going and you knew what was ahead because you were just going around in circles.
"I changed direction every 5km to even my legs that were feeling the strain going around the corners."
Stephen who was eating and drinking himself to death' says running saved his life.
“I always suffered from anxiety and used alcohol to make me feel better about myself. I didn’t like what I saw in the mirror so I’d go to the pub. I was eating and drinking myself to death.
“I decided I needed to clean out the house as such and get rid of the stuff in my head first before I could fully concentrate on my health.
“So I ditched the drink thirteen years ago and I lost 8 stone 10lb after starting to run and getting so much support from other runners.
"I'm 13 stone, five-pound now, I'm healthy and I'm happy."
However, he admitted that Covid-19 made him extremely anxious.
"When it all started a few weeks ago, I had a meltdown. I was worried, I was afraid and I was scared but I rang some friends who really helped me by talking me through it.
"If you are afraid, talk to someone. Misery loves company so don't listen to the bad news all the time.
"There has been deaths and there will be more but the sky hasn't fallen. We can only help by staying put. Plain and simple. "
