During my life I have battled with different levels of anxiety and have never really tried to manage it or even acknowledge there was a problem, but I have found that talking about it has made it something that can be helped/managed. 

There are a lot of people I know who will be suffering from something similar, but struggle to communicate their feelings and don't try to deal with it. Instead they bottle things up because of the stigma around mental health in men, so I am running the Windermere Marathon Course (actual race has been cancelled due to Covid19) on the 31st October to raise money and awareness for Tough Enough To Care, who are a charity specialising in mens mental health.

As I've gotten older I understand how stressful life can be and for a lot of men with mental health issues, this can become dangerous if they do not speak up about how they feel or reach out for help. I have friends and family who have suffered from anxiety and/or depression that don't feel that as a man they can speak about it because it makes them look weak. Tough Enough To Care provide a one stop shop for mental health support. In the first instance, to provide somewhere for men seeking help, support or just someone different to talk to. They also want to offer guidance for others that have been affected as a result of mental health issues.

Even though the actual event has been cancelled - the show must go on and I will be running the 26.2 mile course with some friends who were all due to run the race. Please donate if you can and thank you in advance!!