Firstly the challenge: I will complete a 10k each week until the target is met and will continue to run 10k a week for every £100 over this amount. The more you can donate the further I will run. All runs will be posted  to see the progress.

WHY?

Please support the MIND charity out of respect for the  family of Ben Dance who sadly lost his battle with Mental health at the age of just 39years.

How I know Ben:

I’m not really sure where to start with my story of how I know Ben. Those who know us both will also know we were pretty close and spent a lot of time together when we were younger.

There are so many stories and I will try to summarise...

We met as cricket players, team mates, and became good friends. 

‘D Unit’ taught me how to pre-drink drink and play the worldy wingman!

Luckily our photos of this time pre date FB!

Cricket prep was every Friday night at D man’s place for films and beers or the local pub. A breakfast of the all essential cheesy beans on toast! (This is still a pre-game ritual). Followed by an early trip into Maidstone to get kitted for post cricket night out!

It’s a Saturday morning pre-game and Julian Sterry was fixing the urinal at the club, D man got an air horn from behind the bar and set it off behind him. Jules, only just out of a leg cage, jumped up and hobbled after him launching a wrench across the main pavilion! Very amusing! Captain Dakers couldn’t do anything but laugh his head off.

Out of cricket we had random nights in Oxford and I was introduced to Fuzzy Ducks that ended with us finding a BnB at 5am cost us £12 for the night (2 hours) form a Rasta and he said we couldn’t have breakfast!  

On the pitch! Yes we argued every week over who was the faster bowler and who was going to choose ends to bowl at or who would take more wickets. It was always him batting at 11 tho 😂

Sunday games were hilarious. We would try to bowl not to get wickets but to pin Mathams (80 year old wicket keeper) to see how loud he would toot when catching (or not) the ball!

I remember his best bowling was a day at Hartley. He took 6 wickets and I couldn’t buy a wicket at all that day. He was over the moon and went on about it all night!

Our best opening pair bowling was in 2004 we ripped through the top order at Hartley again.

I’m so pleased to have known Dman and he taught me a lot. It is a very sad and a hard thing to hear that your friend has passed away under the circumstances and I feel for your wife and little girl who you leave behind.

I’m so glad we were able to reconnect recently and put all the past behind us! I just wish you would have opened up to me. There were good times and bad but what ever you were going through your pain is over now.

Love you Bro, I hope you were able to say those final words ‘Save me God’ we had been talking about my faith and trust in God and we had planned for you to come to my house group to learn more. 

WHAT TO DO NEXT?

For all those out there who are struggling remember God never closed the door and all it takes it to say, ‘save me God’ and it will be. You can put your full trust in God and he will be there for you and ready to help as are the people around you don’t bottle it up it isn’t weakness to share your feelings. Not a single person will think less of you. 

I challenge each person who donates to this fantastic cause to reach out to one other person just to check in on them. 

Thank you for all your support in this cause and be there for each other. 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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