in November 2022, Karl sadly lost his life to suicide. Although I was not close to him, I am very close to his parents Brent and Tracey Usher. If anyone is fortunate enough to know this family, you will understand that they are a sweet and loving bunch who don’t deserve to go through something as tragic as this.

There have also been various friends throughout my life who have struggled with depression and/or anxiety, with myself also battling it at various stages of my life. In this day and age the younger generation are more prone to mental health issues than ever before, with social media, the cost of living, and various other factors taking its toll on our mental health.

As a keen long distance cycler, I have always dreamt of Cycling the length of Vietnam with its beautiful diverse scenery and friendly population, so, as I am close to the country, and have the possibility to Raise funds for a good cause, why not? I have many friends throughout the country which I can stop by and hang out with too - exciting!

The trip will take 4-6 weeks over a distance of about 2000km with breaks in the big cities. So even if I am able to get 50p for every km, that will add up to £1000! And as always, if you are struggling with mental health, don’t be afraid to speak up to someone, it’s not as uncommon as you think, and also check in with your friends and family.

See you on the road!

We’re Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), and we’re a suicide prevention charity. We’ve got loads of tools and resources to help people find the support they need, including a life-saving helpline for people who can’t see a way forward, have lost someone to suicide, or are worried about their friends or loved ones.

£12.20 is enough to fund one potentially life-saving call.