Andy Farrer — known as the Portrush Ironman — is again running this year’s London Marathon today (October 2), paying tribute to his late partner Wilma who passed away in 2016.
Wilma worked for a nursery in Ballymoney before her death and had been together with Andy for 16 months, having first met in Portrush on a blind date.
Running the 26.2 miles of the marathon is no small feat, but add the extra challenge of carrying an ironing board along with its iron, and Andy has yet again his work cut out to finish.
Having travelled the world with his ironing board — from beaches to up mountains — Andy and his mascot Gilard will be running to help raise money with funds going to support suicide awareness.
Speaking earlier this year on his partner Wilm’s death, Andy said: “I lost my lovely girlfriend Wilma to suicide in 2016. It was so sudden and my world came crashing down. We had amazing times and memories together. She called me her Bubbles and I called her my Giggles. Bubbles because i was always on the move like bubbles and Giggles because she was always laughing.
“No words can properly describe the pain and heartache of losing a loved one in this way. How do you describe the feelings that you have to deal with after a loved one commits suicide?.Totally lost, broken, empty, don’t want to go on, become a loner , nightmares, unloved and many more.
“Since losing her, I have tried to make people more aware of suicide. We had some amazing, fun memories together and often did challenges like climbing a mountain with an ironing board.
“Not long after her death I decided to do a marathon in her memory and carrying an ironing board and iron. Since then i have taken on several marathons like this, attempting Guiness World Records and have become known as The Portrush Ironman & Gilard. I have run several London marathons with the ironing board and plan to do Dublin, Berlin and New York to name a few.
“My message to you all, THE WORLD ISN’T A BETTER PLACE WITH OUT YOU. The aftermath of a person losing the battle to depression is never ending and every day you hear a record or see something that brings back the memories, the pain increases.
“I was so lucky that my Giggles let me and Gilard into her life and we instantly fell in love. I can’t change depression and I can’t stop suicide. BUT IF I CAN HELP ONE PERSON PICK UP A PHONE AND SAY I NEED HELP, Then I can close my eyes at night. REMEMBER YOU ARE NOT ALONE. THERE IS ALWAYS A FRIEND A PHONE CALL AWAY.”
