Approximately 727,000 people die from suicide each year worldwide. This equates to one suicide every 45 to 50 seconds globally. Men also account for a large number of these deaths, with over 520,000 from the total of about 759,000 worldwide. For a few of us, this is a cause close to home.

This summer, we’re hosting a charity football match to raise money for Andy’s Man Club. Andy’s Man Club is a charity that provides free, weekly peer support groups for men across the UK. Mental health affects us all, whether that’s personally, through our friends, family, teammates, or co-workers. Men, in particular, often feel the pressure to bottle things up and go at it alone. Andy’s Man Club aims to end this stigma by promoting the fact that talking saves lives and that no one has to go through this alone. This issue affects me because, in many cases, there can be a tangible difference between having access to support, talk, and understanding. The fact that there’s somewhere to go, where people can talk and be listened to without judgment, can be life changing.

All money raised from this charity event will go to Andy’s Man Club, and I want to say thank you to anyone who’s read this, donated, or shared, as every bit really does help to make a difference.