On the 25th of May I will be setting off on my challenge to cycle 519 miles around the north coast of Scotland (The North Coast 500) in just 7 days  with the hope to raise as much money as possible for the Charity SAMH and its affiliate SeeMe to help tackle Mental Health stigma and discrimination. 

I have chosen to raise money for this cause for a few reasons and the subsequent Mental Health impact it has had on my life and the people close to me over the last year.  

I have close loved ones and friends who are bravely tackling their own mental health problems by talking to professionals after having to deal with difficult experiences in their lives.

Sadly, last year a work colleague took their own life due to depression 

And I myself often have to deal with my own mental struggles, finding myself becoming often easily irritable, distant, angry and at times highly apathetic. 

For myself, I believe the best way to improve mental health is to exercise, set goals and to talk about how we're feeling...

That's why at the start of the year I decided to do all three by setting myself the challenge to cycle the NC500. 

Everyone as some point in their life will succumb to some form of poor mental health, whether that be feelings of Frustration, Anger, Low self esteem, Anxiety, Despondency, Worry, OCD, Depression or anything else in between.

In fact...

- Approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year 

- 1 in 5 young adults have a diagnosable mental health disorder

- 75% of all mental health problems manifest by the age of 24

- In 2015, suicide was the most common cause of death for both boys and girls aged between 5-19

- On average 2 men commit suicide a day in Scotland 

Having a mental health problem does not mean there is a problem with you.  It is okay to not feel okay and if we can help end the stigma and discrimination around mental health hopefully more people will realise this is the case and feel comfortable enough to talk to someone and hopefully the numbers above will improve

I would appreciate any donation that you can manage,  If we can raise just £5 per mile then the target will be smashed!

but if you can't manage a donation,  then all I wish is that you ask somebody today, sincerely, 

"How are you feeling?"

Matt