Mr Graham's everyday battler campaign

Priory teacher Mr Graham will be using sport to help him with his brother’s suicide as part of the prestigious Everyday Battler Marathon campaign.

The Design and Technology teacher is one of just nine selected, with 1,200 applying for the campaign.  Everyday Battler Marathon is a partnership between Bridgestone Tyres, the Olympic Association and Team GB about chasing your dreams no matter what.

The nine all had to apply for the campaign with the aim of overcoming obstacles with the power of sport and they are currently undergoing physical and mental well-being training.  They will finish with a 10k  at the Olympic Park in London on 21 September .

“My brother Damian had a turbulent childhood and in January 2018, he took his life,” said Mr Graham.  “It was a massive shock, he had issues but he was incredibly bright. He had been at UCLan studying to be an English teacher and his assignments were that good they gave him a posthumous degree.

“He was a big character, he did well in his GCSEs and A-Levels and then was in a band playing the guitar for a few years. He was incredibly gifted.

“Obviously it has hit me hard and I saw the Everyday Battler Marathon advertised on Facebook and I applied, hoping it will help me.

“We are getting help from Olympic gold medallist diver Chris Mears, who nearly died when he was a teenager from a ruptured spleen but carried on to fulfil his dreams, and Olympic pentathlete Greg Whyte, a physical activity expert, who is helping with the mental side.

“It’s about learning to live with what’s happened and move on from the negativity surrounding it and making something positive out of it.”

Adam has taught at Priory since September.  “I became a teacher because of Damian, he told me to do my PGCE and I feel like I am doing what he wanted to do.  Damian was a runner, he was athletic and I have never run before and the training is hard but it’s something I want to carry on with afterwards. 

“I want something good to come out of what happened.  Damian never talked about it, he kept his issues inside and the mind makes things worse.  This will hopefully help me and I have also started up a community Facebook group in my home town of Blackburn called Rise and Shine Blackburn where a group of us talk about mental health issues, offer advice and keep an eye on each other. It’s important to encourage people to talk.

“I feel privileged to be part of the Everyday Battler Marathon Campaign, there are people from all walks of life involved. One is battling cervical cancer, another has been a victim of crime and we are all hoping, through sport, it will help us overcome our hurdles.”

Mr Graham has also been voted for by the pupils to be put forward for the Lancashire Evening Post‘s Education Award for Most Inspiring Teacher.   We will await the outcome at the presentation ceremony next Wednesday.