A DETERMINED Drumchapel man walked the West Highland Way by himself to help keep the doors of a men’s mental health charity open.

Paul Magee packed a bag and embarked on a 96-mile walk to Fort William to raise money for Men Matter Scotland - based in Drumchapel.

So far, more than £1,100 has been donated following his trek.

Paul told the Post: “The charity helped me through a difficult time, and I know there’s different challenges in getting funding right now so I thought there had to be something I could do to help keep the doors open.

“During lockdown, the number of people phoning for help tripled so I knew something had to be done.”

It took Paul eight days to complete the walk – despite an injury.

He added: “I had an accident during the time and had to stop to rest my ankle. I was crossing a burn and slipped off a boulder and twisted my ankle.

“I started by carrying my own tent and done wild camping for three nights but after I injured myself I stayed in hostels.

“I done it solo, so it was quite good, you zone out with your own thoughts, and I met a lot of new people, so it was nice to have conversations along the way.”

The father-of-three took a solar panelled portable charger so he could keep his family and his friends at Men Matter Scotland updated along the way.

Paul, who still attends the service to help others, added: “The work the charity do is amazing - there’s guys in that place just now that wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for the people in there.

“A lot of guys have said themselves that they have been at deaths door and on the road way to committing suicide until they got the help.”

The charity provide support, services, sessions and groups aimed at both preventing and responding to mental health crisis and suicide.