In Zimbabwe, too many men are struggling silently with mental health.

Stigma keeps them quiet. The pressure to be strong keeps them isolated.

It’s time to break that silence.

I know this personally. I’ve struggled with depression and my mental health.

I run to keep the bees at bay. To clear the noise. To remember I’m still here, still breathing, still fighting.

But this isn’t just about me.

This is about the men who don’t feel they can talk about what’s really going on.

The fathers, brothers, husbands and sons who carry their pain quietly… and sometimes, don’t make it through.

In early December 2025, Brian is running two of Zimbabwe’s toughest mountain trail races back-to-back:

• Friday: The 32km Mutarazi Traverse - 4,100m elevation change

• Saturday: The 32km Sky Run, 3,800m elevation change

64 kilometers. 7,900m elevation change. Two days. One goal:

To raise funds for Friendship Bench Zimbabwe — a powerful grassroots movement bringing accessible mental health support to our communities.

Friendship Bench trains community grandmothers to provide safe, free counselling to those in need.

It’s simple. It’s healing. And it’s saving lives.

Our goal is to raise $2,000 USD to help bring more benches, more support, and more hope to the men who need it most.

If this story moves you, please give.

Even $5 makes a difference.

And if you’re a man reading this:

You are not alone.

You don’t have to carry it all.

We’re in this together.

Let’s walk — and run — towards healing.