I've created this page because I want to make a difference. I'm inspired by the work of Suicide or Survive and wanted to support them by raising money as part of my participation in the 20-4-20 Challenge. 

There are a few major reasons for doing this challenge.

For over a decade I had severe mental health issues including suicidal thoughts and I was on high levels of medication just to survive . No one outside my family knew as I was successful in work and I wore the mask well. On a couple of occasions I was within minutes of attempting suicide. The last occasion was nearly 5 years ago, life had gotten so bad (I had lost my good job, finances were poor and nothing seemed to work) that I saw no way it could get better and I had made a plan. Just before proceeding I thought about the effects on my family, they had always been there for me and I didn't want anyone of them to find me. Since that day I have worked hard on my Mental Health and combined this with a total change in my attitude to physical exercise. Physical exercise has helped me in my recovery and on days when I'm not feeling that good it has been the medicine that has kept me on the right path.

My goal is to open up the conversation around Mental Health so that people talk about how they are feeling and through that hopefully we can end the stigma around Mental Health because 'silence kills'.

I am also doing this challenge for some close family members and friends that have gone through a lot of Mental Health challenges in recent years. These people mean so much to me and I am so glad that they are still around because they make the world a better place. These people have inspired me during my recovery and they have also worked very hard to talk openly about their experiences in order to help others.

Finally I am doing this challenge in memory of a work colleagues wife who lost her life to suicide recently. This is for him and his family.

The 1000km challenge is my goal for this year as it tests my physical ability alongside my ability to fundraise and the funds raised will help Suicide or Survive to provide Wellness Workshops, Eden Programmes and WRAP programmes that will benefit people that may not have access to these.

Please help me help them by giving whatever you can using the 'Donate' button. The more people that know about Suicide or Survive, the greater their impact, so please also spread the word by sharing my page with your friends and family. Thank you in advance for your generosity, it really means a lot!