Although rural life may look idyllic, farmers are facing unprecedented challenges right now, whether it's the surge in rural crime, general economic uncertainty, or increasingly extreme weather. When you add this all together and combine it with factors like the often solitary nature of farming as a job, as well as a lack of willingness to seek help, you can see why farming has one of the highest rates of mental health issues out of any profession in the UK. In fact, heartbreakingly, more than one farmer every week takes their own life. 

Luckily, in my part of the world we have the Beds & Cambs Rural Support Network who provide free, confidential, practical and emotional support for members of the rural community, who often feel they have nobody else to turn to. This could range from help with family matters or bereavement to personal debt and business problems. However, the charity needs in the region of £5,000 a year to cover their running costs. http://ruralsupport-bedscambs.org.uk/ .

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution was founded almost 160 years ago and offers financial support to farming people in hardship, of all ages across the UK. They treat every application for support on its own merits, working with compassion and discretion and are a true bedrock of the farming community. The amazing work they do is too lengthy to list here. https://rabi.org.uk/ . 

It's fair to say, charities like these two are absolutely fundamental to the wellbeing of the farming sector.  That's why this summer, I'll be undertaking a series of ultra endurance races, in an effort to raise a total of £1587 for 1587 miles for both of these charities. 

The challenges:

• 19^th May, Norfolk Broads Ultra, 44 mile (70km) standup paddleboard race. DONE! Windy, dodging rented motor cruisers for 9 and half hours. Fell in right at the end. Never again.
• 16^th June, Thames Ultra, 47mile (75km) standup paddleboard race. DONE! 10 hours spent dodging rowers this time. Got lost on the Thames in west London. 
• 6^th-16^th July,
   Pan-Celtic Race, 1440 mile (2253 km) mile unsupported cycle race from Inverness to Llandudno (via the Highlands, Ireland and West Wales), to be completed in a maximum of 10 days. All equipment must be carried. DONE! 10 days of cycling 150-200 miles. Truly naïve going into this. Almost broken by the Scottish Highlands, but then got lucky with the wind in Ireland. Lost 7kg in bodyweight. Finished 22nd out of 53. 
• 22^nd September,
   The Great Glen Challenge, 56 mile (90km) standup paddleboard race traversing Scotland via the length of Loch Ness. DONE! Unexpected headwind meant that this took 15 hours to complete. All but 4 paddleboarders dropped out. 

Thank you for your support.