In the last few years I have suffered from failing physical and mental health.

Feeling ashamed and too scared to talk about mental health, and and with an employer with no experience or understanding of mental health problems resulted in losing my job, having a breakdown, and also having serious surgery on my spine in April this year.

During this time I have wondered whether I should or could speak out about what has been happening with me. However terrifying for me it may be, it's important people know how common these issues are, so that they stop being something to be ashamed of and become something people speak about and can get help with.

I am very lucky to have a wonderful support network of friends and family, without them I'd be lost. Many don't have this, or are unsure how to start the conversations you need to have with those close to you. MIND are a fantastic charity, making it easier to get help and supporting people like me.

As part of the recovery from my operation I am doing physio and going to the gym to do gentle exercise to regain the strength lost in my back, stomach and legs and encourage healing in the nerves damaged. I want to turn this into a way of raising money for this great charity.

So the plan is to cycle 400k between 1st July and 31st of October. This may seem like a pathetic amount, but the surgery I have had restricts how much I can do. I'm hoping to raise £400, £1 per Kilometre.

Putting this on the internet puts me in a very vulnerable position. This is still something I am very much going through, as well as the benefits/ATOS struggles you'd expect. I'm nervous as hell of putting this online. So any support you can give, motivationally or financially is appreciated.

I'll keep this updated with my progress as I go.

Thanks,

Charlie xx

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