Charlie Watkins was only 22 when he took his life in March 2017. Sadly, Charlie never recovered from the tragic loss of his mother when he was only nine years old. Charlie is one of many examples of young people who suffer from mental health challenges today, and the Charlie Watkins Foundation (CWF) aims to raise funds for partners of the foundation to better support young people who struggle with their mental health and wellbeing.

According to the Mental Health Foundation, every year in the UK 70 million workdays are lost due to mental illness, including anxiety, depression and stress related conditions. This means mental illness is the leading cause of sickness and absence from work. In 2015, 75% of all suicides in the UK were male. It is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 35 in the UK. 

In support, I am doing a half Ironman in Westfriesland (Holland) on 26th June. As a family friend, schoolmate and colleague of the Watkins', I feel proud to represent the CWF.