4 years ago this July, my father, best friend and all round good egg chose to leave our earthly plain for the land of eternal beers and boobies. He wasn't only a great dad, but a person, too. My dad was not afraid of challenges, and often sought them out. Though the biggest challenge that my dad faced was bipolar and addiction.

With suicide being the most common cause of death for men aged 20-49 across both Wales and England, and with a severe lack of funding from government bodies, many individuals are left feeling isolated, alone and vulnerable. 2017, the year my father passed, the rate of male suicide sat at a consistent rate of 11.8 per 100,000 in Wales, this has only risen, and continues to rise each year.

Losing my father felt like I'd lost a part of my core, and it still does, though I try to aim to do something each year to both remember my dad, and raise awareness of suicide prevention and male mental health. Preferably, this something will involve me making an absolute tit out of myself, as it's what he'd have wanted.

So... In February 2022 (moved from November 2021 due to Covid), I plan to trek to Everest Base Camp. It is something that I would have loved to have done with my dad, so please, if you can donate, do, as it may allow someone else to trek with their dad one day in the future.

A video interview by myself with Movember can be watched here if you'd like to learn more! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-D4ADYoKII

Diolch yn fawr ac iechyd da

B