Hi Im doing a 14,000ft charity sky dive for action mental health. I am doing this to raise money and awareness of mens mental health issues. Male suicide rates are extremely high in Northern Ireland. This cause is very important to me, I have many friends who have suffered from mental health issues and I my self in the past have suffered from depression, anxiety, and what I call a noisy brain which causes insomnia as i sometimes can just never switch it off. 

I have always I guess been an over thinker. Over anaylse everything and don't want to let people down. I have had my good days and bad days and often kept it tio myself, which makes it worse.

But just before the pandemic about 1 month before lock down I was made redundant from a 12 year successful career after a buy out from an American company. Then the new job I started had to let me go because of a Covid and just to rub salt in the wound I was unabled to be furlough as i missed the cut off date of payrole by 6 days, So I was left behind by our lovely UK government and basically left to fend by myself. My wife had two business which were forced to shut and not allowed to trade. I known it's only money, but unfortunately it effects everyone.. I wondered how I would support my family keep a roof over their heads and keep them safe.

All this became way to much for me, I felt isolated alone and I panicked, I felt physicaly sick and I was extremely stressed and depressed, aswell as being cross, sad, to be honest I really didnt know what to do or what to think and I didnt like the person who I was. But another voice in my head amongst all that noise said I am a fighter a hard worker and with encouragement and support from a loving family and a really good set of friends, they all re-assured me, talked to me and just listened and helped me focus my energy correctly in the right way. 

My wife and best friend Laura is amazing she always knows when just to give me a hug or reassurance and just be there when I need her, to pick me up and lift my spirits she is truly awesome and someone I can always rely on and talk to. She always says whatever happens we are in this together we are a team.

So I fought I started my own media and web business and I have to say I came out the other end stronger and better. However life is still never perfect, Im still not without my bad days and stressful days and always worried I could loose everything. But as my good friend always says to me, usually on a Monday morning its just the rat race we live in, your still here and have a loving family and friends who care and are here to support you, and no matter what you will never be homeless or hungry. 

Not everyone has a Laura or a loving family and friends. But you should never be alone there is always a family. I am part of a bigger family, Instonians, an amazing club where we all support and help each other and I have never met a bunch of people who are so warm and welcoming and who gather round to help each other, play sport, socialise and fundraise and always an ear to listen.

I think action mental health is a great and important charity and always no matter what, you should talk things through with people as it lifts the weight of your shoulders. 

Raising money for any charity is important. This charity helps a sometimes unseen illness that hides away but causes people pain in a completely different way. It helps people who are feeling down or dealing with issues that they sometimes think there is no solution to. But there is, there is always someone there who will listen, a friend, colleague, a team mate. 

So please help me raise not just money but awareness, that we all live in this RAT RACE of life together and its never perfect and at some point we all need support.