The topic of Men's Mental Health has gradually come into the spotlight in the last few years, which has been great to see, but even with this raised awareness, it is still often seen as a taboo subject. With a way to go to break more barriers down, we'd love to see a bigger shift happen. We need to help to get more conversations started, we need to assist and support the services that are there to provide hands-on help, and we desperately need fewer men feeling as though there is no way out...

Some of you may know that 18 months ago, our Dad's life changed in a drastically traumatic way. What should have been the happiest time of his life turned into an experience nobody should have to go through.

His trip of a lifetime (visiting Memphis) was not well-received by his family (understatement) and accusations, lies, and character assassinations took place as soon as he entered back into the UK. Within hours, he had no home, no car, no belongings, no clothes and lost family members who he never thought he would be without - life as he knew it had been whipped away. He tried his best to hold things together, but over the coming months, the ordeal, upset, worry, anxiety and loss all became too much. He wasn't sleeping, he couldn't think straight, he would have panic attacks at any given moment and he began contemplating taking his life. As his daughters, we did all we could to support him, but his mental health had taken the biggest battering of his life, which led to his body giving in - it had simply had enough. He collapsed. An ambulance was called, and after a night in the emergency room, he was eventually admitted to a psychiatric hospital.

Here he was provided with all the mental, emotional and physical care he needed. Throughout his 5-week stay, the wonderful staff encouraged him to talk about the trauma he had been through, they balanced his medication with gentle exercise and plenty of good food! And with their help, family support and his will to live, he came home in a far better place. Of course, the journey isn't over, there is still more to process and overcome, but without these services and our NHS, he is at least, still here with us. And because of this, we want to give something back.

The hospital relies on particular items to help their patients keep their minds active, to have fun, and to allow them to socialise with others. One item they told us they wanted was a pool table so we would like to make this happen along with other things they may need too. And how are we going to raise this money??? By taking on one of the biggest challenges around - The Three Peaks!!

The Three Peaks Challenge will see us attempting to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mount Snowdon within 24 hours (eeekk!!) A small group of us - Emma, Jen, Rob, Emily, Rich and Robyn - will be setting off on 30th July to take on this mammoth of a task and journey in the hope that you will support us in raising awareness and funds for men's mental health. Dad has been through his biggest battle, can we go through ours to stand up for those other men who are still suffering in silence? We hope so, because everybody deserves happiness and everybody deserves to be valued and heard.

Do follow along for updates and send lots of positive "You Can Do This!" vibes ;)