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TARTAN TREK
I’ve been promised my weight in beer says big-hearted Scotland fan, 20, as he WALKS to Euro 2024 finals in Germany
He told how one daft comment from his pal helped inspire the thousand-mile walk
A TARTAN-ARMY daft lad has been “promised his weight in beer” after he walks 500 miles and then 500 more from Scotland to Germany on a charity march to the Euros.
Craig Ferguson, 20, will embark on the month-long trek from Hampden on Saturday and arrive in Munich in time for Scotland’s clash with the host nation.
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The Paisley-born hiker will make the 1000-mile walk to the city while wearing a specially-made ultra-light sports kilt with a special Euros-themed tartan, as he strides across Europe to raise awareness of male suicide.
He has been blown away by the amount of support offered to him since announcing the fundraising effort and has already smashed his £10k target before he even started.
Speaking exclusively to The Scottish Sun, Craig said he can feel the full weight of the Tartan Army backing him.
He said: “Everyone has been super supportive, we’ve managed to hit the whole target without taking a step.
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“Everyone has been brilliant. I think I have been promised my weight in free beers at this point.
“The response from people has been mad, and Scotland fans have this amazing reputation when they are travelling worldwide anyway.
“I can do this knowing I have the full support of the Tartan Army and all Scotland fans travelling there just motivates me even more.”
Craig is embarking on the mammoth trip to support charity Brothers In Arms – a Scots charity aiming to reduce male suicide. Craig hopes he can use Scotland’s place in the Euros to bring fans together in the fight.
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He said: “I think everyone can agree it is a prominent issue. Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50, that is horrifying.
“Football is a sport that unites men across the world and the Euros is an ideal opportunity to harness that energy and get men to open up about how they are feeling.”
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The kilted walker, who works as a waiter, is a keen traveller and has visited over 36 countries.
The Euros trek will take him 37 days as he strolls down to Hull before catching a ferry to Rotterdam and then walking across the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and then into Germany.
He told how he was inspired to take on the international stride after a daft comment from his pal.
Tackling male suicide
CRAIG is embarking on this journey to help tackle male suicide, the biggest killer of men under 50.
He hopes his March to Munich will inspire men to open up and help men in crisis.
In the UK, 12 men take their own lives every single day
Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 years old
In Scotland, men remain almost 3 times as likely to die by suicide than women.
The average age of suicide death has been rising since 2000, and in Scotland is 48.2 years.
Recent research suggests that men are less likely to access professional mental health support than women.
Brothers in Arms is the leading charity dedicated to helping men before they reach crisis point.
The charity one-to-one support with their 'talking-and-listening' tool, which is free to use via www.brothersinarmsscotland.co.uk/blethr/
If you need help, 24-hour support is available via Samaritans - Text SHOUT to 85258 or Call 116 123.
He said: “I was sat on a phone call with my best mate thinking the same as thousands of other Scots, how to get to Germany.
“He then said ‘I may just walk it’ and I thought 'that is the most stupid thing I have ever heard' and the call ended there.
"But I don’t know what it was but something sat with me and I thought, that is brilliant, once I thought of the possibility of raising money for such an amazing cause, I just thought I need to do this.”
Dan Proverbs, the founder of Brothers in Arms, described Craig's effort as "inspiring" and "epic".
He said: “We are so grateful that Craig has chosen to support Brothers in Arms with his inspiring mission.
"He is quite literally 'walking the talk', and I hope that his epic walk encourages men to talk about their mental health as openly as they talk about football.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
"All the best, Craig - we'll be with you in spirit every step of the way."
Track Craig’s journey and donate here or follow him on social media @CraigFerguson_1.
- Do you need help? Call the Samaritans on 116 123 or go to www.samaritans.org