One evening a few years ago everything in my life became too much for me to cope with and I experienced a mental breakdown.

I cannot recall leaving my house, or where I went, such was the mental stress I was in, but I do clearly remember the moment I found myself standing at a bridge.

"Its two seconds that's all it will take to go head first over there and your pain will be over!" - my 'dark passenger' was at its loudest and strongest that I had ever experienced.

Fortunately my body's natural state of survival at that time was louder and following this I sought help. I am happy to say that I am now in a much better place physically and mentally.

Steve Whittle, founder of a charity Tough To Talk, delivered a session to us at work recently talking about mental health and male suicide, it was shocking!

Do you know that 80% of all male suicides are functioning adults and dealing with their issues alone and not known to the NHS or family and friends? - just like I was before seeking the help and support I needed!

The #ToughToTalk campaign is dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and reducing male suicide rates by offering free Suicide First Aid training for male-dominated spaces, creating life saving content and sharing real-life stories.

They believe that every man deserves a safe space to discuss their mental health struggles without fear of judgment or stigma. Their mission is to break the silence on mental health issues among men and create an environment where open conversations can thrive.

So having just completed one gruelling charity challenge in 2023 I decided that I wanted to support Tough To Talk and raise much needed funds for the amazing work that they are doing, I will be completing a total of 2024 miles throughout 2024 to try to raise a total of £2,024.

I have until 31st December 2024 to complete the challenge - it works out to be a daily average of 5.5 miles to stay on track!

I would be eternally grateful if you could donate to this worthy cause.

Breaking the Silence: The #ToughToTalk Campaign