Hey guys!

On September 12th I’ll be running the Brighton Marathon on behalf of ‘CALM’ (The Campaign Against Living Miserably). 

CALM is a UK charity leading a movement against suicide, tackling stereotypes of masculinity, suicide and mental health that prevents people talking about their struggles and seeking help when they need it. 

Suicide is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the country. 

Every week 125 people in the UK take their own lives. 

75% of all UK suicides are male. 

Throughout this past year and a half in particular, the effects of the pandemic on peoples mental health has been huge… and its ok to talk about it! CALM directly prevented 100 suicides during the first two months of lockdown in the UK. They support people with issues like debt, addiction, job loss, divorce, mental health issues and homelessness. They run a free and anonymous web helpline and web chat, staffed by trained professionals which runs from 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year for anyone who needs to talk about life’s problems. 

CALM also support those bereaved by suicide, through the Support After Suicide Partnership (SASP). Further information can be found on their website via links provided:

https://www.thecalmzone.net

👨‍💻 Webchat: https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/webchat/ 

☎️ Telephone: 0800 58 58 58

During the course of the pandemic, charities have been unable to hold fund-raising events as they usually would and have lost out on opportunities to raise money for their causes. If you are in a position where you are able to leave a donation to my JustGiving page - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/aj-bentley - then I’d be over the moon, and it would mean a great deal to CALM, making such a difference in helping them to continue the amazing work that they do to support those in need. 

Also I’m absolutely not a runner… So if we can raise some money for this great cause, it might just ease the pain ever so slightly!!

I wish you all a very happy summer!

Take care,

AJ x