Brendan Gibson – Gold Coast Marathon Fundraiser

With the 2023 Village Roadshow Theme Parks Gold Coast Marathon fast approaching 1-2 July 2023, we want to make a special mention to last year’s highest fundraiser, Brendan Gibson, who raised an incredible $4157 for LIVIN.

Read about what motivated him to participate and support LIVIN and how you can be a part of this year’s Marathon.

Brendan Gibson the CEO of anspired – an outsourced IT Support company specialising in Protecting our clients from IT Threats.  Not quite 40 yet, Married to Louise and three amazing kids Ella, Rhiannon, and Archer.

 I am from Brisbane and started running properly over 8 months ago.    

What made you choose LIVIN as the charity you wanted to support?

To be completely honest I was registering for the half marathon, and it asked if we wanted to fundraise, so was looking for another charity that I support, found they weren’t there so looked for another that was aligned with mental health awareness and found this interesting one called LIVIN!!!!.  Loved that they worked in schools and thought this is an organisation I want to work with.

Why is supporting mental health awareness important to you personally?

Losing my uncle in February 2021 to suicide, not knowing he was feeling this way – a real shock.   Every opportunity I get to talk to men and women, it’s reassuring them that they are valued and loved.  My Brother and I were interviewed at a men’s shed event at Gateway Baptist and the number of men that we’ve had conversations with that have been in a tough place or struggling.  It can all change with a conversation.    

I had some health issues 3 weeks prior to running the half marathon (epileptic seizures). It was the fact I was running for mental health awareness that kept me focused on finishing no matter how hard it got.   

What advice would you give to someone who is struggling?

Reach out, talk to someone and that can sometimes be hard when you have no capacity – Would want them to know they are valued and loved.

To register for the Marathon: Gold Coast Marathon 2023 (grassrootz.com)