A BRADFORD man who suffers from depression has smashed his target of running 15 marathons in 2015 to raise money for a leading mental health charity.

Shane Nicholl, 26, has actually completed 17 gruelling races, culminating in two events - a marathon and an 'ultramarathon' - centred around Kirkstall Abbey near Leeds.

He has raised just short of £1,500 for Mind, and is hoping to increase that to £2,000 before moving on to his next fundraising challenge.

Mr Nicholl, a web developer who lives in Apperley Bridge, was diagnosed with depression last year, and admitted that the condition had started to "take over" his life.

He chose to run for Mind to help raise awareness of mental health issues and end the stigma surrounding the condition.

Asked how he felt about completing the challenge, he said: "I feel relieved, overwhelmed, ecstatic, but mostly very tired.

"There have definitely been lots of ups and downs throughout the year.

"Mentally, I have been very shaky, and at times during a couple of races I have been completely overwhelmed, not just by the number of marathons I'm running and the fact that I'm doing it for charity, but also that I'm finding the mental strength to do so.

"It's easy to be self-deprecating when you suffer with depression, but the challenge has allowed me to realise that at times I am a lot stronger than I give myself credit for.

"It's impossible to run over 100km in a day and not feel proud of not just the physical achievement, but also the mental.

"At the minute I'm in between treatment. Despite suffering with depression on and off for about ten years I have only been seeking medical help for the past two.

"While the previous treatment didn't work well for me I'm hopeful that the next one will, and in the meantime there is my running."

Mr Nicholl said his two toughest races had both come while competing in Norfolk, his first 'ultramarathon' in snowy conditions in January, and a 100km race in the same county in June.

He admitted that without the challenge of raising the money for charity, there were times he might have given in to the temptation to quit.

"I'm realistic enough to know that my story won't have reached far and wide, but I believe that I have opened the eyes of both friends and family and colleagues at work," he said.

"For me, running is very much a tool I use in my battle against depression, but many others don't have anything readily available to help them.

"With one in four people being expected to suffer with a mental health condition each year, if it isn't you, it is likely to be someone you know.

"If I have changed just one person's perspective on mental health and encouraged them to either speak openly of their experiences or be more willing to listen to the experiences of others, then it has been worth it.

"There is a long way to go until mental health is viewed on an equal level with physical health, but to get there, people must be open about their condition and help others realise just how widespread it is."

For more information on Mr Nicholl's fundraising, visit www.runtothemoon.co.uk.