'My 51-mile Christmas run felt like a rebirth'

A man who ran 51 miles across Yorkshire on Christmas Day for mental health says it "felt like a rebirth".

Kacper Bilengrek, from Beverley, ran from the East Yorkshire town to Conisbrough, near Doncaster, while carrying a 25kg (55lb) backpack to raise money for people who "feel unseen" at Christmas.

The 21-year-old set off at 02:00 GMT and crossed the finish line in South Yorkshire at about 11:00.

Speaking about the experience, Mr Bilengrek said: "It was just myself in the cold and dark, just really thinking about everything. There was a lot of reflection."

Mr Bilengrek's challenge was called "The Weight of Love", with the backpack representing the "invisible weight that many people carry every day".

He came up with the idea after undergoing "life-changing" surgery on Christmas Eve last year, following a serious injury at work.

Reflecting on the run, Mr Bilengrek said he was fine for the first 20 miles, but then started to experience sore shoulders and back, as well as numb legs.

However, he said he was inspired to keep going knowing he was doing the run not just for himself but for everyone struggling with mental health.

"The moment I finished I just threw my bag on to the ground and laid there for a bit," he added.

His sister, Paulina, who lives in Hull, was there to meet him at the finish line, before he went home to celebrate and recover by having a bath and catching up on some well-earned sleep.

Paulina said: "I was incredibly nervous watching him take on the race, knowing how much it meant to him and why he was doing it.

"But seeing him cross the finish line filled me with nothing but pride.

"I couldn't be prouder of him - not just for the physical challenge, but for using it to raise awareness for such an important cause."

As of 30 December, Mr Bilengrek, who moved from Poland to East Yorkshire aged four, has raised £600 from his run for the Mental Health Foundation.

However, he said his main goal was to spread awareness.

"If someone can see what I've done and makes them reach out to a family member, friend or professional to talk about mental health I believe that's the biggest victory," he said.

Mr Bilengrek said he would encourage other people to go for a walk, run, or to talk about their mental health with those around them.

"Humans can relate to each other. We have all dealt with difficult things and we are not alone," he said.

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