Jack Evans is busy tying up the shoelaces on his new pair of trainers. He gets through a lot. ‘I started running in lockdown by accident,’ he explains. ‘I was trying to find a way to stay fit. My brother gave me his fitness watch and said, “There you go, now do something with it.”’

In a nod to the film Forest Gump, Jack started to run. First it was a little run, then he ran to the end of the road and then to the next, and the next,… well, you get the drift. The 27-year-old hasn’t stopped running since.

His motivation to start raising money was the loss of two friends Edward Matthews and Joe Jensen to suicide both aged 29, four years apart. ‘They were similar to me,’ says Jack. ‘I worked as a musician and in a bar. I saw myself in them and didn’t know how to deal with it.

‘Suicide is still the biggest killer of men under 50 and I want to help change that. I was once told, “We can’t do anything for those that have gone but we can save the next person in their name,” so I began doing music events, working alongside charity Grassroots Suicide Prevention to raise money.’

Events turned into running challenges and last year, Jack decided to run the Brighton Marathon and realised that he quite enjoyed it. He wanted to make a serious impact and raise as much money as possible and thought of doing 12 marathons in 12 months but surprisingly thought ‘people might think that’s pretty easy’, so decided on 20 marathons in 12 weeks.

He warmed up last year by running three marathons, three half marathons and two 10kms to get his body used to racing. ‘I have run more than 100 kilometres a month for the last five months just to try and get my body used to that level of fitness,' he says. 'Obviously, your legs feel it, but its more the mental impact - you need to get your head used to running.’

But it does take a physical toll. 'I get loads of blisters,' Jack admits, 'and I sometimes have to pop them so I can run the next race. I’ve lost five toe nails, and have only got half left!'

Jack, who's from Hanover in Brighton, listens to audio books while running. Harry Potter is a favourite. ‘I love the escapism. When I start, I know where I will be when Harry gets to Hogwarts,’ he laughs.

Jack began his challenge on March 3 this year and completed 20 marathons of 26.2 miles (42.2km) each two months later, including Barcelona, Madrid, Riga, Gateshead and the Enigma Easter series in Milton Keynes. His best time was 3 hours 44 minutes and 25 seconds in Barcelona. ‘My favourite was Brighton. It’s my hometown and it was a good time of 3 hours 54 minutes. All my family and friends came down to watch, even my football team, Sporting Hand in Hand, were there. Having people cheer you on makes a big difference, especially people you don’t expect to see; it really fuels you.

‘I did six marathons in eight days in Milton Keynes but got injured on the fifth one. I started and had to stop after less than a kilometre when I strained a muscle in my shin – my ankle swelled up to three times its size. Despite limping and crying I couldn't do anything. But I came back the next day and completing that marathon just felt like the biggest thing I've ever done in my life. Crossing that finish line was a highlight.’

Although he is aiming to raise to raise £20,000 for the charity which educates and connects with vulnerable people to help save lives, increasing awareness of the charity is equally important to him. ‘It’s getting people to know that it's okay to talk - that’s as valuable as the actual money. It is improving but there is a long way to go; people put on a brave face and often it is the ones you don't expect who are sometimes struggling most. No one should have to suffer alone and feel like there is no one to listen.’

As a guitarist Jack finds music is a release and through his songs he has written about his experiences including one he wrote called Shadows for Joe. ‘It may sound cheesy but it’s the language everyone understands. You can express so much through music. When you are on stage and singing lyrics you have written, it’s like a type of therapy.

‘It is a good way of getting things out. There are times when we let things sit in our heads too much. If it stays in your head, then no one can help you. If you release it into an emotion people will know what you are going through. It’s really healthy way sharing emotion and everyone loves a song.’

Jack finished his challenge along the River Thames by competing in the Blue Bridge loop in Walton on Thames on May 25 earlier this year. It seems appropriate, as it was the spring Thames Meander where he began his challenge. He celebrated with a pint. ‘I hadn't had a drink since New Year's Eve so it was the best beer I'd ever had!’

Being super fit is an amazing feeling he says and has added benefits. ‘I remember the first time a ran and I couldn’t complete a 5km run. I did 1.7 km and had to stop. The other positive about running is along with raising money for others with mental health issues, it’s also been beneficial for my mental health. If I feel a bit down, I just go for a run and the endorphins it releases is just amazing.’

Running with well-seasoned marathon runners and having experience on your side is a positive, he explains. He has met some incredible people on his running journey, including 74-year-old Colette O'Hagan who is aiming to become the first Irish woman to run 1000 marathons before she is 75. ‘I ran with her when I got injured, I was struggling and Colette gave me a pep talk. She’s a legend in the running scene and has already completed over 900 marathons.

Is there a special camaraderie in the running community? ‘Yes, 100 percent,’ he says 'In my first marathon, I was trying to keep myself going, it was really hard so I began to encourage other people saying, “come on you got this” and they would shout back. It’s a bit like when you hug someone you get a hug back – if you encourage someone, that encourages you. It’s a special feeling.’

Running has become a part of Jack’s life and he already feels he has set himself a standard, ‘I can't just run one marathon again. I'm thinking about doing ultra marathons or triathlons. I’m definitely not done.’

‘I’d run every day for the rest of my life if it meant that no one has to feel alone or lose someone they love to suicide.’

Jack is documenting his journey on Instagram @imrunningforyourlife where you can find the link to his Just Giving page for donations.