Hi, I’m Ryan. I’m a chef, a father of six, and right now I’m fighting the hardest battle of my life—both physically and mentally.

A week ago, I tried to take my own life. Years of silent depression, pressure, burnout, and emotional exhaustion finally caught up with me. I’ve always carried too much weight on my shoulders—but this time, it crushed me. In the middle of trying to recover, I’ve also been diagnosed with a tumour on my kidney. I’m now facing two serious battles at once: one for my mind, and one for my body. I’ve been signed off work and I’m on Statutory Sick Pay, which isn’t enough to cover even the basics—mortgage, bills, or keeping food on the table for my kids.

I’ve asked for support through the proper channels, but nothing has moved fast enough, and now I’m genuinely scared of what happens next. This isn’t about luxury. It’s not about launching a brand. This is about survival.

Your donation—whether it’s £1 or £100—goes directly toward keeping me and my kids safe while I get the professional help I need and prepare for possible surgery. It gives me the time and space to breathe, heal, and recover without losing everything I’ve worked so hard to hold together. But I don’t want to just survive this—I want to grow from it.

When I’m through the worst of it, I want to give back. I’m a passionate photographer and videographer, and I hope to rebuild my life through creativity, storytelling, and maybe even helping others like me speak up before they break down.

This darkness has shown me how fragile life is—but it’s also reminded me why I want to keep living. Thank you for reading this. Thank you for seeing me. And thank you for being part of helping me rebuild a life worth staying alive for. – Ryan