From LA to SF: Ger dixon’s Run for Mental Health Awareness
As he neared the end of his run from Los Angeles to San Francisco, Ger Dixon was overcome with a rush of emotions. He thought about the past three years, about how low he had been when he tried to take his own life. Tears came as he remembered the depths he had endured and the people who doubted he could finish.
Dixon, the first Irishman to complete the 421-mile run from LA to SF, always knew it would be a mental challenge as well as a physical one. Running 30 miles per day, he says he never doubted himself: “Because I’m stubborn enough and I’m crazy enough.” Still, he admits, the second day nearly broke him.
Though he trained for the Los Angeles heat, he hadn’t considered the heat radiating from the pavement. “It was pure heat off the ground. I never experienced that,” he said. With no shade, it was a brutal ordeal.
But when he rounded the corner toward the finish line at the Shannon Arms, after running for 14 days straight, the Tipperary Hurling Club’s goalkeeper felt relief and vindication. “It was an overwhelming moment, everybody waiting for me. It was finally over. It was a great feeling.”
Three years earlier, instead of attending the annual San Francisco GAA dinner dance, Dixon had decided to end his life. Depression can affect anyone, he says, and the run carried a dual purpose:
“I want people who suffer in silence to know and to see that it does get easier. It doesn’t get easy, but it gets easier. Trust your friends, trust your family, reach out for help.”
He stresses how difficult it can be to recognize the signs. Appearances can be deceiving and anyone can be affected by depression. “Your friend that has the beautiful partner and the beautiful children with a big house and the sports cars.” Dixon urges people to stay in touch with friends and make sure they know you’re a safe space.
His run raised money for Celtic Cara, a Bay Area organization that provides emergency financial help to people in crisis, those who can’t afford professional care or have to give up a paycheck to handle an emergency. “Their mission isn’t specific to suicide, but they work on all of the factors that contribute to depression and suicide,” he explained. His fundraising has brought in roughly $35,000 to help connect people with immediate assistance such as housing or essential bills, intervention critical to preventing a downward spiral.
Ger Dixon approaches the finish line at The Shannon Arms in San Francisco.
For Dixon, the LA to SF run was both personal therapy and public testimony, proof that the darkest chapters don’t have to be the last. Even as he recovers, he’s already looking ahead. He plans a coast-to-coast run from New York to San Francisco, a 120-day project he says will continue the conversation about mental health and the people who suffer in silence.
If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, know that you are not alone. In the U.S., dial or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support available 24/7. In Ireland, call Pieta House at 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444 to connect with their 24/7 crisis helpline.
