Keep Going Mate —

Coast to Coast for Cam and Andy’s Man Club

We’ve done this before.

We’ve run.

We’ve run a 5k every day for 375 days.

We’ve pushed ourselves further than we thought we could.

We’ve raised £5,500 for Mind.

We’ve had conversations about mental health.

And we’ve tried, in our own small way, to remind people that when things get tough…

remember to Keep Going Mate.

Now we’re doing something a little different.

I’m swapping my running shoes for a bike and taking on the Coast to Coast with a group of colleagues.

Three days.

Around 140 miles.

Coast to coast.

And here’s the thing…

I haven’t been on a bike since COVID started.

That’s over six and a half years ago.

So, yeah…

I’m nervous as heck.

And if I’m honest, part of me is wondering what the hell I’ve signed myself up for.

But I can almost hear Cam telling me to do the crazy thing.

So here we are.

140 miles on a bike after not riding one for over six and a half years.

What could possibly go wrong?

And this time we’re raising money for Andy’s Man Club.

If you’ve followed Keep Going Mate for a while, you’ll know why this means something to me.

Cam is a big part of why I started Keep Going Mate in the first place.

And since then, I’ve seen first-hand how important it is to keep talking about mental health.

I’ve seen what happens when people come together, when someone checks in, when someone simply asks:

“You alright?”

And, importantly, actually listens to the answer.

That’s what Andy’s Man Club is about.

Creating spaces where men can talk, listen and be honest about how they’re doing.

No judgement.

No pressure to have all the answers.

Just people talking to people.

And I want to help support that.

The last big Keep Going Mate challenge was 375 5Ks, raising more than £5,500.

That was a massive challenge for me, but the money raised and the messages that came from it made every step worthwhile.

This time there’ll be fewer steps…

…and a lot more pedalling.

I’m not going to pretend I’m looking forward to every mile.

There will be hills.

There will be tired legs.

And there will probably be a few moments where I question why I thought this was a good idea.

But I’m well out of my comfort zone.

And that’s what this is for.

To show you …

you can get you out of yours.

To remind you that doing something difficult doesn’t mean you have to do it alone.

To remind you, on the bad days, that you can keep going…. To…

Keep Going Mate.

Sometimes you just keep moving.

One mile.

One conversation.

One day at a time.

If you’d like to support me and help raise money for Andy’s Man Club, I’d be incredibly grateful.

And if you can’t donate, that’s absolutely fine.

Share this.

Talk about it.

Check in on someone.

Ask your mate how they’re really doing.

Because sometimes that can mean more than you realise.

So wherever you’re going…

Keep Going Mate

I’ll be cycling right behind you.