When a friend committed suicide due to mental health struggles a former Helston rugby player knew more had to be done to raise awareness, particularly amongst other young men.

Together with two other friends from university, Alex Hayton has now completed a cycle ride from John O’Groats to Land’s End, raising almost £5,500 in the process.

This will go to the charity Marcus In Mind, set up by the parents of his friend Marcus Colville in memory of their son, focussing on identifying people who may be prone to suicidal thoughts – in particular men – through the medium of sport and encouraging them to talk about mental health.

Alex, together with Newcastle University friends Giles Themans and Fenn Newsome, who joined him on the cycle ride, played rugby with Marcus Medicals Rugby Club in Heaton, Newcastle.

Marcus had already completed the same cycle ride twice, so it seemed a fitting tribute that would also raise funds.

Alex, a former Wendron School and Helston Community College student who played for Helston Rugby Club before going to university, said: “It was a big challenge – very tiring. But we enjoyed it a lot.

“The idea was to do it in memory of Marcus and raise money for the charity.

“Massive thanks to people that have donated.”

Donations can still be made to the online fundraising page at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/for-marcus for another few weeks.

Alex, 20, is in the middle of a marine engineering degree and hopes to return to Cornwall to work afterwards, with his parents still living in Helston.