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A man hopes to break two skateboarding world records in one day to raise money for the Mind charity and encourage other people with mental illness to use them as their 'superpower'. Ryan Swain, from Malton, North Yorkshire, is backed by Olympic ski jumper Eddie the Eagle as he attempts to break the Guinness World Record for the longest distance covered on a skateboard in 12 hours and 24 hours. The 32-year-old will be the first person to attempt the 12-hour record and will need to cover a minimum of 124 miles to claim the award.
The 24-hour record is 261.8 miles, set by Andrew Andras in Florida in 2013.
Mr. Swain aims to cover 300 miles during the 24-hour period, and the attempts also have deeper meaning for the avid skateboarder, who discovered the sport in 2002.
He lives with adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and is determined to use his love of sports to raise awareness for mental health disorders.
Referring to ADHD as his 'superpower', he told the PA news agency: 'I personally see ADHD as the culmination of all mental health disorders.
"Anything you can think of as a mental health disorder, it all merges with ADHD, making it incredibly difficult to live with.
"But you can use it like a superpower and channel it, for example, in this world record attempt.
"I know for a fact that if anything is going to get me through this, it's going to be this energy, this ADHD, that's going to get me through it."
He added that if he breaks the records, "hopefully it will inspire other people with ADHD, or any other mental health condition, that things like this can be achieved."
Swain says his mental health and skateboarding are two aspects of his life that are "very misunderstood."
"I think ADHD has been a lot like skateboarding for many years; both are very misunderstood," he said.
“Years ago, people looked at skateboarding and didn't take it very seriously. People would think it's something only kids do, and the same goes for ADHD.
"People think that ADHD is hyperactive and something that only children have, but that's not really the case: ADHD in adults is a thing."
Mr Swain, who receives support from Team GB for his world record attempts, took a short break from skateboarding but returned to the sport during the Covid-19 pandemic after his mental health plummeted.
"I started skateboarding in 2002 and have loved it ever since," he said.
"I took a break but, during the pandemic, when my mental health was not so good, I went back to my skateboard and that was the answer to all my problems during lockdown."
In addition to skateboarding, the 32-year-old, who has identical twin daughters, eight-year-old Ivy and Isla, is a motivational speaker on mental health and living with adult ADHD.
“I do a lot of motivational speaking on [mental health]. I do a lot of fundraising and ADHD awareness trying to inspire other people that having a mental health condition doesn't define you,” she said.
"You can always achieve your dreams, your goals, your ambitions."
She added that she chose Mind to raise money because it helps people with different mental health issues, from anxiety and depression to "more complex" disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism and Asperger's syndrome.
So far, Mr Swain's JustGiving page has raised over £2,000 of his £5,000 goal.
He said he had been "overwhelmed" with the support, including from Michael Edwards, better known as Eddie the Eagle, who sent Swain an encouraging video message.
"I was absolutely blown away and totally excited to have Eddie supporting me," he added.
“I admire [Eddie the Eagle's] determination. I certainly admire his courage to believe in something and not give up.
Mr. Swain has been training since early December to prepare for his challenge, hitting the gym three to four times a week and going on a grueling diet before the event.
This includes using the treadmill, bike, and rowing machines for an hour each to build stamina.
Practice is necessary for Swain to hit an average of 30 mph, but he said keeping up would be a "struggle."
"This record is all about pace, and ADHD is what I'm going to fight," he said.
"I'm going to put in a lot of energy and a lot of stamina, but it's all about balancing that stamina and using it to my advantage."
While Mr. Swain is interested in breaking the world record, his main goal is to spread awareness of Mind and help bring skateboarding to the forefront of mainstream sports.
"I don't really care about the history of the record, as long as it's fundraising and publicizing the charity, that's all that matters," he said.
"However, I want to get that record back for Great Britain. I think it will be amazing for skateboarding in the future."
The attempts will take place at Elvington Airfield in York on May 8.
To support Mr. Swain's cause, visit the JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ryanswain24hoursskate
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