I am raising in stance for Josif, because he deserves a voice when he felt he didn't deserve to have one. A man who was humble beyond belief and took less than he needed. 

3 out of 4 suicides in the UK are men. 13 take their lives every day. 13 men yesterday, and 13 more today. We cant always see the battles our fathers, brothers, husbands, sons, and friends are facing. One day last year on his birthday, Josif was one of those 13. He shouldn't have gone. He shouldn't have been in a place where he felt he needed to. 

Josif was homeless, without access to accommodation, sleeping in the rain. He loved to draw and it would light up his face when he did. He thought he was a burden to share his thoughts, his feelings, his worries. He didn't know how to, because he'd always been taught not too. He shouldn't have had to feel like this. I gave him a space to share how he was doing, but he would apologise and I'd remind him that he didn't need to. The ultimate end came when enough was enough and he sadly ended his life in a tragic way. The only option he thought he had left.  

I am joining the Rise Again Walk 4,657 metre challenge. At sunrise on 28th November myself and the pooch Yogi will be walking a metre for each man lost to suicide every year. Please help me raise £500, enough for 200 men to access the HUMEN Space : A Gym for your Mind.

For each step I take for a man lost to suicide, I will work at reducing the number of steps I will need to take a year later. One day we may be only walking a few steps in memory if we all work together. Ideally we wouldn't be walking at all. 

Not only am I raising for Josif but I am also sharing that I went through depression in 2020 myself. I know the feeling of lonliness. The feeling that there isn't all but one way out. I'm very lucky as I talk about my emotions. I reach out. I share what I can... and still I felt powerless to what I was going through ... so I can't imagine how it feels for a guy who succumbs to what society teaches him about 'being a man'. 

Josif taught me many things, but the most important was that behind all of the bravado, the smiles, the 'I'm ok's' ... can be a man who is broken and hoping that he'll make it through. 

Join me in being part of change. Join me in reaching my goal to help prevent another situation like Josif's.