IT IS TIME TO TALK.

Men between the ages of 15-26, a range I fall within, are the demographic with the highest rate of suicides. In the last 10 years, 6,929 lost to suicide. 18 a day. 125 a week. Let that sink in.

After hearing of Alex's story through his mother Tracey, someone I consider a great friend & a member of the gym loved by many, I resonated with the story. The one thing we have in common is wanting to spread awareness of suicide prevention. Raising awareness that there are platforms that allow us to SPEAK UP and TALK to people who can help us in our time of need - at any point in our lives.

I am taking on Manchester Marathon for two reasons. 1) to raise money for CALM and the amazing work they do to raise awareness for suicide prevention. 2) as a challenge set by Tracey and I to push that extra mile (literally) and push myself to my limits.

I have my struggles too. As someone who is an 'aspiring Hyrox athlete', I have struggles that consume me every single day. They can be specific to being a man. They can be emotional. They can be mental. I know many men & women who have their struggles on a day to day basis and I want to use this opportunity to tell my stories too.

My struggles stem from a lot of self-doubt. In my teens, I felt I was never good at anything. I was never picked for any school team. I wasn't considered 'gifted and talented', and even in my chosen sport, l was picked after people who were indifferent to it. Self-doubt is big in everyone's lives, but one thing I have tried my hardest to become in my adult years is a role model. A role model so I can show people that anything in life is achievable, no matter how big or small. I came from a background where those I looked up to didn't believe in me. But, I want to be that beacon and that person that they know for a fact believes in them, and that they have my support now and always.

I pride myself on being an open book, and showing my members, my people, my team that it is okay to feel emotions, but it’s also okay to voice and show those emotions. It is okay to not be okay, whilst also knowing there is support out there in every way.

I want this fundraising campaign to be about changing the narrative. We need to encourage people to talk. We should never put down someone's issues or struggles because they affect them more than they would another person. We are all affected by mental health in some way, but as I said at the start... IT'S TIME TO TALK.

£12.20 is enough to fund one potentially life-saving call. 1 call is made every 57 seconds.

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.