Running can be great source of exercise or cathartic release, but for former Glasgow soldier Paul Ellis, it has proven to be so much more important.

Paul served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Sierra Leone, working as a driver for the Royal Marines, but was diagnosed with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after returning from a tour.

His struggles led to depression, which got so bad that he tried to commit suicide on more than one occasion.

However, he is on the road to recovery, and is taking part in the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run Community Challenge, which he says is one of the reason he is rebuilding his life.

“When I came back, I had a few problems psychological, and I was diagnosed with PTSD,” said the 53-year-old.

“Initially I thought ‘let’s get through it’, get it sorted and get back on track, but my whole world fell apart and I decided to try and get out of the world to get away, because I was mucking everything up for everybody.

“Running has given me a focus in life and helping other people get through their problems with the experiences I have had.

“It was my sister who started running and said ‘train me’, and I thought I would do that. And while I was doing that I thought I had a purpose in doing it again. I saw runs for charity and thought ‘I could do that again’.”

The Bank of Scotland aimed to nominate one person from each 32 local authorities in Scotland for the Community Challenge, in a bid to get Scotland active.

Each runner will embark on their own personal journey in a “10 week to 10k” challenge, receiving a personalised training programme by an expert coach in the weeks leading up to the run, on October 1.

And for Paul, the programme and the run is about more than just physical exercise.

“I’d like to think it would bring us runners together, and hopefully we can keep the friendships going after as well, through social media and spur each other on,” he said.

“I’ve actually run virtually every day last week. The training programme says run, brisk pace, but prior to that I’ve been doing 10k virtually every day.

“I want to get actual friendships and build up a social network of people I can talk to, and help other people and raise the profile of the organisation I work for.”

Bank of Scotland is supporting runners from communities across Scotland on their 10 weeks to a 10k challenge for the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run Community Challenge. For more information, visit greatscottishrun.com/community-challenge