Last year, a shocking and saddening statistic emerged regarding mental health being the biggest threat to men, with an average of 84 males taking their lives in the UK each week. 

This is something that directly affected me very recently, after a close friend of mine - Jim - felt he had no other option but to take his own life. As someone who has also personally really struggled with my own daemons, I felt compelled to do something. I know what it’s like to have a mental mountain which feels like it gets steeper every day and that it’s impossible to overcome. 

Therefore, on November 30th, I will climb Englands highest mountain - Scafell Pike - but will do so with a rowing machine on my shoulders. The act of battling the hardest mountain going, with this huge weight on my shoulders represents what so many of us go through, but feel they can’t admit. 

When I reach the top, I’ll then row 10,000 metres to demonstrate the incredible things you can achieve when you talk about your mental mountain, clear your head, get help, turn to friends and family and reach the top. 

I want to raise £50,000 for the mental health charity Mind, but more importantly I want to shout louder than anyone else from the top of a mountain that we need to start opening up! 

Talk about your mental mountains and overcome your mental climbs!