Army Veteran takes on Loch Ness Marathon for Erskine Scotland’s leading Veterans charity

An Edinburgh man who fought in Afghanistan is set to tackle the Loch Ness Marathon, all in the name of Scotland’s foremost veterans’ charity, Erskine Veterans Charity.

Graeme Carolan, 35, who served with the Royal Regiment of Scotland is lacing up his running shoes to raise vital funds for the organisation that has long been close to his heart.

Born and raised in Edinburgh, Graeme’s family has a long-standing history of military service. His great-grandfathers fought in the Second World War, one captured at St Valery during the evacuation at Dunkirk and the other contributing to the liberation of Europe post D-Day.

Graeme's own military career spanned four years, including a tour in Afghanistan in 2011, and it left a permanent mark on his life. Since leaving the Forces, he has been impressed by the work that Erskine carries out between its homes in Renfrewshire and Edinburgh, with a new Activity Centre in Highlands also on the way.

He said: "Though I only served for four years, my time in the military absolutely shaped who I am. I’ve never had a sense of belonging, or the kind of bond with people like those I served with. There’s always been a sense of unfinished business, and that’s part of why I want to give back to the veteran community now.

"Erskine’s support is real, it’s tangible, and it’s tailored specifically for veterans. They help those facing the unique challenges of life after service, whether it’s adjusting to civilian life, mental health struggles, or finding a sense of belonging again.”

Graeme’s commitment to supporting veterans is deeply personal. A frontline emergency service worker, he sees first-hand the struggles many veterans endure and has even survived his own battle with mental health challenges, including a suicide attempt in 2019.

He added "As someone who’s struggled with mental health, and whose job involves suicide intervention, I’ve seen how often veterans find themselves on the edge. I’ve been there myself, and sadly, we lose so many on a near-daily basis, including people I served with. We need to do more as a society to help those who’ve served and address the unique challenges that they face.

“That’s why I decided to run for Erskine. Erskine is close to home and offers real and targeted support, tailored to veterans and their needs, such as transitional accommodation for those whose life circumstances suddenly change, assisted living for longer term care, and activity centres to bring together the community. It’s real support for real people, right on my doorstep, and the results are plain to see.”

This will be Graeme’s fourth marathon but his first raising funds for veterans. After running the Edinburgh Marathon in 2014 in memory of his sister, he’s now aiming to complete the Loch Ness Marathon, on Sunday, September 29^th, in under 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Graeme’s journey to this race has been deeply transformative; it marks nearly one year since he gave up alcohol and began focusing on his health and fitness. He’s determined to push himself harder than ever before – not only as a tribute to his fellow veterans but to all those who have supported him.

He said: "I’m proud to support Erskine and the incredible work they do for veterans. This marathon is about giving back to those who’ve served, to those still serving, and to all the people who’ve helped me get to where I am today."

For more information on how to support Graeme's fundraising efforts for Erskine, please visit Graeme's Loch Ness Marathon 2024 for Erskine https://www.justgiving.com/page/graeme-carolan-1700772999215.

If you'd like to run for Erskine's Veterans, you can secure one of their limited Loch Ness Marathon places by contacting community@erskine.org.uk.

To find out more about Erskine Veterans Charity’s work please visit our website at www.erskine.org.uk, follow on twitter @ErskineCharity via Facebook www.facebook.com/ErskineVeteransCharity or listen to Erskine Veterans Radio at Erskine.org.uk/radio. To donate directly to Erskine, please visit Erskine.org.uk/donate.