Let's show everyone with a mental health problem that they are not alone. Stand with us and fight for mental health by joining my charity stream for Mind.

The stream will be in honour of my good friend Rob who we sadly lost 15th March 2024. Rob was such an amazing friend who could fill the room with laughter with his insanely witty sense of humour. He was so selfless in everything he did which really stood out for me, and I'm sure his family and friends would agree.

His love and passion for playing videogames was apparent from the first day I met him and continued throughout our friendship. I remember getting absolutely schooled by him everytime we played Super Smash Bros and Mario Kart, he was in a league of his own, not just as a player but as a person.

A few years back Rob moved to Hong Kong to pursue a career as an English teacher. This obviously meant that we didn't see each other as much, but we did still keep in touch through WhatsApp and other socials. He would share pictures of all the amazing food he would eat and all the gaming rarities he picked up to add to his collection.

The last time I saw Rob he came back to the UK for a surprise visit, it was completely unexpected and I remember being so happy to see him. We spent two days eating insurmountable amounts of food, playing videogames and watching funny videos with close friends and family. It's a memory I will keep with me forever.

The last time I heard from Rob was around a week before his passing, he shared an image of an Amiibo of Sora from Kingdom Hearts he'd picked up that day and told of how cheap he'd picked it up for. I remember saying "How could you not have picked it up 🥰". That was the last time I spoke with Rob.

If I'd have known how Rob had been feeling I would've definitely made more of an effort to reach out and to check in. A lot of us suffer in silence and are good at hiding how we are truly feeling. But we shouldn't have to.

The money we raise will make a real difference for those of us with a mental health problem.

Mike Smith