Hannah Richards
Hannah & Team - A Year of Challenges
Fundraising for CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)
Story
Last year, I raised money for CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) after losing my wonderful brother Sam to suicide. Sam was the most loving, kind and funny person I knew- he was my best friend and I miss him every day. I’m helping to raise awareness so that men can speak out and get support when they need it most and prevent families going through the unimaginable loss we did.
Here’s my story: https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2018-10-04/bereavement-charity-fundraiser-nominated-for-daily-mirror-pride-of-britain-fundraiser-of-the-year-award/
In the UK, the biggest killer of men under 45 is suicide. Additionally, of the 6000+ British lives lost to suicide each year, nearly 75% of those are male. That is 84 men each week, that is 84 sets of friends and family left to make sense of what has happened. Suicide carries in its aftermath a level of confusion and devastation that is beyond words.
Suicide rates continue to climb and so it is vital that the conversation starts now, we simply cannot make "suicide" a taboo word anymore. Today, men feel they cannot talk about their emotions that they must "man-up". For many men, opening up about their emotions is a sign of weakness. Young boys need to be brought up knowing that it's okay for them not to be okay. I always thought that if someone felt suicidal there would be some clues in their behaviour, but I know now that these feelings can be completely invisible to others. It is therefore so important to talk, ask and listen, as suicidal thoughts don't always have a face or mood.
Calm is a Charity that offers 24hr support to men in the UK, of any age, who are down or in crisis. They are challenging today's culture that prevents men seeking help when they need it. Additionally, they are pushing for policy and practice changes so that suicide is better
prevented and provide essential support to those bereaved by suicide. They have already succeeded in their campaign for a government minister for suicide prevention.
I am kicking the year off with the BRIGHTON MARATHON (14th April 2019). I will be completing this event on my own (unless I have any volunteers to keep me company).
The next event will be TOUGH MUDDER FULL (4th May 2019). This
event is a 10 mile VERY muddy gruelling 25 obstacle course (see video for all the muddy glory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOtAEb1Z92Y)
I will have these awesome people joining me:
Bethany DickensRosie AkermanJoe SlaughterDebbie WillisPhoebe BarkerMark CowardWill Mackenzie Martin Hodgson Stepping it up a notch the next challenge will be the LONDON TO PARIS BIKE RIDE (24th July-28th July 2019).
Day one starts in Croydon cycling through Kent to Dover covering 86 miles. We then hop on a Ferry to Calais.
Day two we cycle from Calais to Arras a total of 82 miles.
Day three we cycle 76 miles from Arras to Compiègne.
Day four we cycle to Paris, up the Champs-Élysées, round the Arc de Triomphe and finish overlooking the Eiffel Tower- 67 miles. The total distance cycled will be 311 miles!!
My team will include these wonderful people:
Anthony RichardsMatthew StephensJoe PettigrewThe final event is the 24 PEAK CHALLENGE (20th-22nd September 2019). The trek is split over two days covering 24 peaks in the Lake District.
Day one covers nine peaks, this is approximately 12 miles in 12 hours.
Day two summit the remaining 15 peaks, trekking 16 miles, with a target time of 12 hours.
The fabulous team joining me will be:
Julie RichardsAnthony RichardsBethany DickensCarly Stephens
Please give what you can to this cause, thank you so much.
Ps. If anyone would like to join me in any event please get in touch!!
Here’s my story: https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2018-10-04/bereavement-charity-fundraiser-nominated-for-daily-mirror-pride-of-britain-fundraiser-of-the-year-award/
In the UK, the biggest killer of men under 45 is suicide. Additionally, of the 6000+ British lives lost to suicide each year, nearly 75% of those are male. That is 84 men each week, that is 84 sets of friends and family left to make sense of what has happened. Suicide carries in its aftermath a level of confusion and devastation that is beyond words.
Suicide rates continue to climb and so it is vital that the conversation starts now, we simply cannot make "suicide" a taboo word anymore. Today, men feel they cannot talk about their emotions that they must "man-up". For many men, opening up about their emotions is a sign of weakness. Young boys need to be brought up knowing that it's okay for them not to be okay. I always thought that if someone felt suicidal there would be some clues in their behaviour, but I know now that these feelings can be completely invisible to others. It is therefore so important to talk, ask and listen, as suicidal thoughts don't always have a face or mood.
Calm is a Charity that offers 24hr support to men in the UK, of any age, who are down or in crisis. They are challenging today's culture that prevents men seeking help when they need it. Additionally, they are pushing for policy and practice changes so that suicide is better
prevented and provide essential support to those bereaved by suicide. They have already succeeded in their campaign for a government minister for suicide prevention.
I am kicking the year off with the BRIGHTON MARATHON (14th April 2019). I will be completing this event on my own (unless I have any volunteers to keep me company).
The next event will be TOUGH MUDDER FULL (4th May 2019). This
event is a 10 mile VERY muddy gruelling 25 obstacle course (see video for all the muddy glory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOtAEb1Z92Y)
I will have these awesome people joining me:
Bethany DickensRosie AkermanJoe SlaughterDebbie WillisPhoebe BarkerMark CowardWill Mackenzie Martin Hodgson Stepping it up a notch the next challenge will be the LONDON TO PARIS BIKE RIDE (24th July-28th July 2019).
Day one starts in Croydon cycling through Kent to Dover covering 86 miles. We then hop on a Ferry to Calais.
Day two we cycle from Calais to Arras a total of 82 miles.
Day three we cycle 76 miles from Arras to Compiègne.
Day four we cycle to Paris, up the Champs-Élysées, round the Arc de Triomphe and finish overlooking the Eiffel Tower- 67 miles. The total distance cycled will be 311 miles!!
My team will include these wonderful people:
Anthony RichardsMatthew StephensJoe PettigrewThe final event is the 24 PEAK CHALLENGE (20th-22nd September 2019). The trek is split over two days covering 24 peaks in the Lake District.
Day one covers nine peaks, this is approximately 12 miles in 12 hours.
Day two summit the remaining 15 peaks, trekking 16 miles, with a target time of 12 hours.
The fabulous team joining me will be:
Julie RichardsAnthony RichardsBethany DickensCarly Stephens
Please give what you can to this cause, thank you so much.
Ps. If anyone would like to join me in any event please get in touch!!