On Christmas Day, people across the globe will have done little but relax and spend time with family.
However, for Jordan Paterson, that was the day he embarked on his incredible six-day run across the Netherlands, where he now lives.
The 26-year-old made the life-changing move back in 2017, initially expecting to spend just a year playing rugby in the country.
Jordan – who previously had worked with Ardrossan Academicals RFC as a modern apprentice via Scottish Rugby and North Ayrshire Council – previously told how the move came at an ideal team when “life in general wasn’t going so well”.
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After an enjoyable spell, the move soon became permanent and now the former Ardeer Primary School and Auchenharvie Academy pupil calls the Netherlands home.
His life has changed significantly since and Jordan – who now works as a full-time carpenter – often finds himself looking for ways to give back to a country which has supported him greatly.
This has led to various running exploits in a bid to raise funds for mental health charities.
Jordan has covered significant distances in the past with an effort last year taking him over 120km.
However, his latest effort which started on December 25 is undoubtedly his toughest yet – running from the top of the Netherlands to the bottom.
After starting out in Eemshaven, he has been running around 70km per day since and is due to complete his efforts – at the time of writing – in Vaalserberg on December 30.
It has been a monumental and incredibly draining challenge, but with the support of friends and a worthy cause in mind Jordan has battled through every kilometre.
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He said: “I’ve never done this for personal gain, I don’t gain anything from it except building the proof that I’m stronger than I think.
“I would like to highlight, your donation isn’t just a donation. It’s a statement. You’re saying ‘I see you, I care’, it means a lot more than you think. Together we can make change.
“I run to bring mental health out of the darkness, I’m not the perfect person, I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life. I’m not an elite athlete, far from it.
“But what I am is I’m a coach, I’m a good friend, I fight for the people who have lost their voice, I fight for the people that struggle every day, for the people that are afraid of being judged because now more than ever they need our support and love.
“I’ve looked death in the face many times in my life but every single time I’ve come out stronger, I didn’t do it alone. The people I have in my life have all played a part in my journey. In this life we only have each other.
“I’m just a young boy born in poverty in North Ayrshire, a nobody – a nobody that’s grown up in the Netherlands that wants to give back, that’s had to figure out life on his own. Together we can make a difference. Together we can make the change that has to happen now.”
Jordan has set up four fundraising pages for those looking to donate in support of his efforts – with money raised going to LooseHeadz, SAMH, The Jordan Legacy and 113 Zelfmoordpreventie.
Each page is available online via Jordan’s Facebook page.