James Harmer
85km walk from Stockport County FC ⚽ to Blackpool FC ⚽ fundraiser for Mentell
Fundraising for Mentell
Story
Background
This charity fundraiser event is brought to you by Andy Reding, Ian Hiles, Jamie Reding and Jimmy Harmer.
We are 4 passionate Stockport County fans. It was Ian who came up with the idea to walk (yes walk!) the 85km from Edgeley Park to Bloomfield Road in aid of men's mental health charity, Mentell. To add to the difficulty of this challenge, the 2024/25 League 1 fixture list has been unkind enough to place the Stockport County vs Blackpool game in the middle of the warmest month of the year in the UK, August (which, let’s face it, will mean that it is bound to chuck it down 😂). Nevertheless, come rain or shine, we will be walking the streets of Greater Manchester and Lancashire, starting our challenge at Edgeley Park at 8am on Friday 16th August, taking a short break / recover around Preston for the night before completing the final leg of the journey aiming to arrive at Bloomfield Road in plenty of time for kick off on the Saturday 17th August.
We are just 4 guys who probably spend too much time on the sofa watching box sets. We don't run marathons or cycle hundreds of miles every week, so this is going to be a significant physical and psychological challenge for us all. We do not underestimate how difficult this is going to be, but we will spur each other on and are all determined to complete the challenge and raise as much money for our chosen charity, Mentell.
Andy and Jimmy are members of TSBW (The Scarf Bergara Wore) podcast, bringing regular shows across channels such as YouTube, Apple podcasts, Acast, Spotify, Patreon and more, to Stockport County fans across the world. Mentell is our charity podcast partner. We have regular guests on the show from the charity, so we are acutely aware of the important work they perform across the borough of Stockport and beyond.
We will be posting live updates on our social media channels during the 2 day challenge. Please help us to support the important work this charity does and donate what you can.
Andy, Ian, Jamie and Jimmy
Why Mentell?
... a few words from each of us:
Andy Reding
Mentell provides a safe and confidential environment for men to start speaking about what is going on in their heads. 17 years ago I decided I couldn’t cope, and crying in the toilets at work was the last straw. Telling close people around me that I was struggling was the best thing I ever did and whilst getting professional help, I soon realised that I wasn’t alone. A lot of men, myself included, think that we have to be strong, and that speaking up or asking for help is a weakness. I quickly learned that it is the other way round. Doing nothing and bottling it up is the weakness. It’s time to speak up, no one is alone! 💙
Ian Hiles
Mentell as a charity means a lot to me. I first started with mental health issues shortly after my mum lost her battle with secondary breast cancer 10 years ago. Even though I was told it was coming, it hit me hard and my life completely changed. Shortly after my stepdad passed suddenly with no warning and I felt completely alone. I started drinking a lot and messing my life up. Thankfully, through very good friends and a great support network I started to get my life back on track. I still struggle to this day and charities like Mentell help. I speak to close friends that do go to Mentell and we would be truly lost without the support that is provided by this great charity. 💙
Jamie Reding
A leap of faith in taking that first but by no means easy step to speaking up, facing the brutal suffering of mental health. A space combined with safety and confidentiality simply makes that hardest decision one easier for us all to acknowledge and come to grips with.
I’m 27, I say suffered, arguably an understatement when I weigh up and put everything into perspective the life events that have unfolded in the past 27 years of my life. If there’s any compliment I can pay mental health is that it’s presence is bigger and scarier than I could ever of imagined it to be and it’s persistence and brutality as well as ruthlessness at times have really put me to the test. That being said, I was constantly on the lookout, crying out for that place I could turn to or visit in that time of despair and feeling I can no longer go on. That place to feel safe, comforted, supported and not to be made to feel alone with this animal. That place is Mentell. Take that leap of faith with Mentell. 💙
Jimmy Harmer
I count myself to be extremely lucky that I have personally managed to avoid any serious mental health issues in my 46 years. Whilst this is true today, it may not be true tomorrow or the day after that. I have seen close family members, friends and colleagues suffer with severe depression, psychosis, addiction, and intrusive thoughts. A silent and invisible disability that can strike anyone at any time irrespective of gender, age, or background. And it doesn’t stop there. The impact is felt, like a ripple, spreading from that one person to friends, family and loved ones. It’s a sad fact that many men feel that they can’t open up, and don’t have a safe space to go to, to talk with people who have felt what they are feeling and been where they are. Maybe one day I will be in that dark place … if I am, I will be sure to register with Mentell and talk. That’s a promise. 💙