So it’s almost two years since untreated Depression killed Lee and the kids and I wanted to mark it with something challenging in a nod towards the difficulty of being left behind with a 6 foot 4 shape hole in our lives. . 

The stipulation from the kids was Rolo had to be involved (our beloved giant Labradoodle) so having ruled out cycling or swimming feats we settled on trekking and climbing up the highest peak in Wales.  We could all agree it felt fitting to try to march up tricky unknown territory, marking up the milestones with dangerous changeable weather conditions and not much more than hope and Haribo and each other.

Neither of the kids have done anything like this before being only 11 and 14 years old and neither has Rolo being two. The individual difficulty of climbing one of the highest mountains in the UK for each of them speaks for itself but for me this means if any one member needs assistance I’ll be the only one strong enough to carry them; daunting and poetic are words which come to mind.  

Giving back to a world which can cruelly take is the motivation we’re looking for which is why we’re not asking you to reach into your pockets because this will be a challenge (no challenge will ever match living without Lee) but instead an opportunity to help us help the many others Joca can reach in promoting tolerance, empathy and kindness. Mental health need not feel so hugely misunderstood and money and awareness might help someone else in the Club so their loved ones don’t have to don their waterproofs and march up miles upon miles of steep, rocky mountainous terrain in memory of someone important.

So please give what you can, remember you count and someone always - always - cares. X