EX SUICIDE AWARENESS

On 02 Feb 2023, I set out on a 33-hour weightlifting challenge, lifting 4129kg on the even hours then 1454kg on the odd hours. Why those numbers? In 2021, 4129 males and 1454 females committed suicide in England and Wales, my best friend Stu was one of them. He was 33 years old when he committed suicide and 02 Feb would have been his 35th birthday.

My priorities for this event were to get people talking about Mental Health, especially men. Reduce stigma around suicide, through raising awareness and talking about it, and finally to raise funds for Hectors House, a local suicide prevention charity.

I started the challenge at 0800, starting with deadlifts, 100kg lifts 41 times, finishing with a 30kg dumbbell curl at the end. At 0900 I elected to do bench press for this hour, 50kg lifts 31 times finishing with a 4kg dumbbell curl. Both these lifts didn’t take that long which meant I could then return to near the front door and engage with people as they came in the gym.

As the day progressed, I switched which lifts I would use to try and reduce the fatigue on my body. I primarily used deadlifts, squats or leg press for the 4129kg hour. For the 1454kg I focussed on upper body so doing bench press, bicep curls or triceps extensions.

Some of the highlights of the time I spent in the gym, over 33 hours, was talking to people, especially those on the RRU. Chatting to them about how their injuries had affected them and how they were working through it. What I personally enjoyed was personnel who joined in and helped me through the sets. Individuals who throughout the day lifted over 150,000kg combined!

Special thanks to the only station personnel who came down to cheer me on and help me through. Flt Lt Kearney, WO Jenkins, FS Chrisp, FS Stobbs, CT Mallam, Sgt Martin, Sgt Martini, Sgt Mawdsley, Sgt Wallace, the RAFP personnel and MPGS who checked up on me throughout the night. Particular thanks go to the individuals who brought me a MacDonalds in the depths of the night!

Friday was a difficult day for me, the weights were starting to take effect and I hadn’t eaten properly throughout the night where I was tired. But, when Nadine, my wife and Maxwell my son, popped in it really helped. Having family there supporting and pushing me on was a big morale boost. As the day went on, more people arrived, Stu’s sister, Heather, drove up from Kent and so did Ian (one of the four of our close friendship group), then Hector’s House staff arrived and this helped reinvigorate me for the last set.

The last was completed at 1600 on Friday, this was a 4129kg set. FS Stobbs had arrived to lift with me, my family and friends were there to support me. I selected Hit the Road Jack, Drum and bass remix, as the song for the start of the set. This was particularly emotional as this was the song we played at the end of Stu’s funeral as we exited the crematorium.

As we started lifting, Heather then challenged me to finish my set before the end of the song, so I lifted the 80kg deadlift 51 times and curled 2 x 15kg dumbbells within 3min 30sec.

It took me 3 days before I could walk without aching, I didn’t manage to get back in the gym due to aches and niggles for 2 weeks. I’m now continuing on my Strongman journey and training for a competition in Apr.