Trekking towards the start of a match - A fan from Scotland made the journey from Glasgow to Munich for the European Championship match.
This evening, the European Championship commences featuring Scotland playing against Germany. Participating in this prestigious event is the young Scot, Craig Ferguson, who has journeyed through six countries on foot to be a part of it. Ferguson began his trek in May from Glasgow and traversed Scotland, England, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg before arriving in Germany two weeks ago, covering approximately 1600 kilometers. On Instagram, Ferguson shared his experience with around 30,000 people, many of whom tracked his journey via an online map.
For two years, the football fan worked as a waiter to make his dream of a break possible. Yet, it wasn't only the physical challenge that lured Ferguson. In an interview with SWR, he expressed his desire to encourage men to publicly discuss mental health issues like depression during his expedition.
Promoting Mental Health Discussion in Football Fans
"In the UK, about 12 men commit suicide daily. That's sad, it shouldn't be that way." Ferguson hopes his efforts can lead to more open conversations about mental health problems, and he believes football is the most effective medium to reach men. Additionally, during his campaign, he raised funds, earning over 70,000 Euros so far. He plans to donate the collected amount to "Brothers in Arms Scotland," a charity dedicated to reducing male suicide rates.
Strolling fashionably in a traditional Scottish kilt during his journey, Craig Ferguson often encountered curious onlookers. He had the kilt custom-made for his expedition, incorporating the colors of all the nations Scotland will face in the Euro 2024, including Germany, Switzerland, and Hungary.
In the coming weeks, approximately 200,000 Scottish football fans are anticipated to visit Germany.
