A TOP team of footballers are running almost 2,000 kilometres during June for a lifesaving local group which helps men with mental health problems.

Six Inverclyde lads have swapped their boots for running shoes as each of them cover 10k every day in aid of Morton in the Community's 'Team Talk' initiative.

David Charles, Stewart Ballantyne, Ryan Cannon, Peter Cleisham, Andrew Mitchell and Jonny Roy are all members of St Francis' Football Club and decided to undertake the mammoth challenge to raise £1,000 to help the group, which is reliant on funding, to continue operating.

It only took them a week to reach £2,500, crucial funds that will allow Team Talk to continue helping men in the community.

Jonny, who is currently furloughed from his role at Morton in the Community, told the Tele: "A few of us had originally planned a fundraiser down at Inverkip Community Hub, but with the current circumstances we couldn't go ahead with it.

"We knew we still wanted to do something, so decided to run 10k every day during June, as we wanted to really justify people's donations, especially with folk being out of work.

"It's a real challenge, I haven't actually been on a proper run in around five years until now.

"We're all really excited to raise money for something that is so important - and also improve our own fitness while doing it."

Team Talk has been operating for around 13 months and usually meets each week at Cappielow.

Its meetings have moved online to ensure support is still there during lockdown.

Despite Jonny not currently working, he has been joining in the Zoom calls in a volunteer capacity.

They take place every Monday between 7pm and 9pm.

The 27-year-old said: "It is really important that these things can keep operating."

Morton in the Community is a charity, so the money raised by the runners will go towards running costs and allow Team Talk to continue operating well beyond lockdown.

Jonny said: "We are really thankful to everyone who has donated.

"It's great that we are able to raise awareness of something so important."

For more information on Team Talk, email brian@mortoncommunity.net or call 07903843833.

To donate to the runners' fundraising effort, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sanfranteamtalk.