YoungMinds is the UK's leading charity championing the wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. Driven by their experience, YoungMinds creates change so that children and young people can cope with life's adversities, find help when needed and succeed in life.

Our youngest son Matty suffered with bad mental health all of his life. He fought his demons so hard despite being continuously let down by CAHMS, the people that were supposed to help him. For a while Matty was winning - he did well in school, was a successful Royal Marine cadet, got married and started a career in the police force. The day he passed out as a Special Police Constable was the proudest day in his short life. If we had known that there was support out there for him we would have used it rather than stumble around in the dark. Matty lost his fight to his demons on the 7th December 2022, the day our world lost it’s colour and joy.

We are completing this challenge in honour of Matthew Peter Spooner to raise funds for Young Minds so that other young people don’t get forgotten, so that other young people can access the help when it’s needed. If we can prevent at least one young person going through the feelings of betrayal, abandonment, worthlessness, living in constant turmoil and darkness and losing their own battles then it means something good has been borne from our pain.

This is for you Matty xXx