We're living through challenging times at the moment and mental health is under one of the greatest pressures for many years. Suicide steals 18 lives every day and as such is the biggest single killer of men under the age of 45. Working on the railway we know first hand the deep trauma, upset and devastation that suicides cause not only to the victim’s family, friends and loved ones but also to those who bare witness or are involved in the incident. 

We are a team of train drivers from GTR Southern’s Brighton depot and we’re taking part in the 55 mile London-Brighton Cycle Ride in September to raise funds for CALM, the Campaign Against Living Miserably. They offer information, advice and support to people when they really need it. It costs £8 to answer each one of the potentially lifesaving calls that they receive, often from extremely desperate people who feel they have nowhere else to turn. They run a free and confidential helpline and webchat – 7 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone who needs to talk about life’s problems. They also support those bereaved by suicide, through the Support After Suicide Partnership (SASP).

Each phone call to CALM costs them £8, so our aim is to raise £2,640. That means that for every mile each team member rides, a potentially lifesaving phone call to CALM will be paid for. We’re asking all our friends, family and colleagues to dig deep because even in these uncertain times suicide remains a silent killer and a real threat. Every pound donated is helping someone, somewhere. Thank you!