Joshua’s Ultra Marathon for Men’s Mental Health

Hi everyone, I’m going to run an ultramarathon (100kms) in 2024 to raise awareness for men’s mental health. I’m not a runner so this is a huge challenge for me, but I'm determined to do it. I want to show that men can be strong and vulnerable at the same time. Mental health touches both men and women equally yet fewer men reach out or access professional help. Men are also more likely to take their own life or die from destructive coping mechanisms like drugs and alcohol. I have personally experienced my own mental health struggles. I was lucky enough to be given a second chance at life, when so many others have not - like my best mate, Aaron Gedey, who tragically passed away by suicide last year. His death was a huge shock to me and to everyone who knew him. Suicide is the leading cause of death for men aged 15 to 44, and it's a problem that we need to address. In recovering from my own struggles and in Aaron and his family’s honor, I now feel that my purpose is to help spread awareness and support men’s mental health. It’s okay to speak up if you are suffering, it’s a strength not a weakness. You don’t have to ‘man up’ and bury the pain because one day all that pain and trauma will come to the surface and explode with no way of knowing how to deal with it. I know first hand the devastation and pain left behind when someone you care about takes their own life or gets lost suffering from addiction. I'm asking for your help to fund my journey to train and compete in the Ultramarathon. Every dollar you donate will help me to raise awareness of men's mental health and to support the charities that are working to make a difference.
There are many ways you can help me achieve my goals:
Donate to my GoFundMe page.
Spread the word.
Share myGoFundMe page on social media.
The more people who know about my fundraiser, the more awareness we can generate.
You can volunteer for a mental health charity. Talk to your friends and family about men's mental health.
Check in on the men in your life.
Let men know that it's OK to not be OK.
Thank you for your support.. Together, we can make a difference. Stay tuned for updates and milestones achieved along the journey. Follow my instagram account @thenamesjoshuwa or on Strava : https://strava.app.link/f5Ot71w66Bb