A Wirral man is going the extra mile in a bid to spread an important message to not suffer alone.
As the cost of living continues to grip households right across the UK, many people will be finding themselves struggling. With additional financial worries, more people may find themselves with declining mental health for the first time, or seeing their mental health struggles worsen.
But Lee Holmes, from Moreton, was inspired to "take action" as he worries more people will "spiral". In the hopes of raising money for CALM, the Campaign Against Living Miserably, Lee wants to spread the message to "never suffer alone".
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Completing a gruelling challenge, Lee - who works for Jaguar Land Rover in Halewood - is cycling from Vancouver to the Border of Mexico down the Pacific West coast of the USA for the cause that is close to his heart. But the challenge is far from easy, having already suffered a "nightmare" three days worth of punctures and a "massive tyre blow out", Lee told the ECHO he wants to do all he can to help.
He added: "I've been cycling for about ten years and it's been a fantastic mental crutch for me. It gives me time to reflect on things going on in my life and forces you to disengage and move away from your phone or TV.
"The whole time I'm cycling, I'm reflecting on what's going on and it helps me get through life. Just before Christmas last year I knew I wanted to do something for charity so I decided to combine that with cycling and do a charity cycle.
"It's more important than ever that people get behind charity's like this. So many people are affected by their mental health and I don't think there's enough awareness of it. Especially following covid with people being isolated and now the cost of living going up, there's a lot of stressed and struggling people out there.
"I wanted to raise money for them to help and raise awareness. To spread the message to don't struggle alone and to call CALM, people, especially men, will suffer in silence. You never know what's going on in your friend's head and if it inspires one person to make a call that could save a life, it helps.
"Men are starting to share their emotions more, myself personally as well, but it's still seen as a form of weakness and that stigma needs to go."
According to CALM, 125 lives are lost every week to suicide and 75% of all UK suicides are male.
Cycling around the USA, Lee said: "I was about 115 miles from San Francisco and had to stop at a bike shop. I've had a nightmare three days with punctures and a massive blow out which was scary but I want to make the most of this."
Lee is documenting his journey via his Instagram Page and anyone wishing to donate to his fundraiser can do so by clicking here. More information on CALM and how to access services can be found by clicking here.
His fundraiser reads: "I will be heading out to Vancouver on 20th August, building my bike on 21st and shipping my bike box to the finish line. Then the challenge begins on 22nd. I will pedal on average roughly 125 miles a day for the next two weeks, riding the entire length North to South of the west coast of the USA.
"I will cumulatively climb over three Mount Everest's over the duration and probably eat a mount Everest of food as well. It is entirely self funded and solo with no outside assistance for my daily riding, I will be carrying everything I need with me on the bike. It will be an adventure, a test of bike, body and mind.
"Cycling for me is not just about keeping fit and seeing nice views, it's also a mental break from whatever else is going on in life, it's time to reflect and process... In my opinion everyone should ride a bike. I hope my ride can help raise awareness for a charity striving to help people who are suffering in ways I hope I never do."
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