‘I’ve put my medals with Nyall’s’ - Cromer teenager’s father raises £4,647 for Mind

Mearl Brown, the father of a Cromer teenager who took his own life last year, ran the Brighton Marathon and London Marathon raising almost £4,000 for mental health charity Mind. Photo: Mearl Brown (Image: Mearl Brown)

Mearl Brown, from Cromer, whose son Nyall died in May last year after struggling with his mental health, ran the London marathon for Mind in four hours and 12 minutes on Sunday, April 28.

And the 45-year-old thanked everyone who had donated to his fundraising, and said: 'It just means so much to have that support in a small community.'

Mr Brown said: 'I'd just like to thank all the people who've supported me and say a massive thank you to all who've donated.

'The beach runners have been superb; the physiotherapy people who have been putting me back together; and all the support from the town, and friends and family.

'My wife Tracey and Kharn have been though this too and have done so well.'

READ MORE: 'I felt Nyall was with me' - Cromer teen's father on Mind charity marathon

'Mr Brown, who raised £4,647 for the mental health charity and came in 12,854th place, added: 'It's not until you have a tragedy or sad loss that you realise how important these charities and support out there are for people.

'It's vital and its always that message of speaking to people and trying to get the help and not bottle it up - to just talk to people.

'My target was £2,000 and that's the biggest thank you to everyone who gave - if it wasn't for them it wouldn't have happened.'

The offshore worker also completed the Brighton marathon just two weeks earlier, in four hours and 24 minutes, and during the last half mile injured his foot.

'But the pain in my foot was nothing compared to what people are going through in life when they can't seek help - it's the last thing on your mind,' he said.

'That's what drives you to push through - there's people in a lot worse conditions than you are running a marathon.'

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He added: 'It was quite an emotional day. I've put my medals with Nyall's and laid them out.

'Mentally, running has been my saviour.

'You've got to set goals in life to have something to aim for, to get out and make the most of it.'

Mr Brown and his son Kharn have entered the draw for London marathon places in 2020, which he hopes to run in under four hours.

He said: 'I want to try and run three next year and do some half marathons to raise some money.'

To donate, visit Mearl Brown's fundraising page.