Roker Report’s January Challenge for Men's Mental Health

Even in “normal” times January can be a tough month for many to endure; the cold, the wet, the dark, the financial burden of Christmas. This January will be especially difficult for most when you throw into the mix the Tiers 5 Lockdown Restrictions.

Now more than ever we need to raise awareness, and money, to help fund the services that fight back against depression and suicide.

Every week in the UK, 125 people take their own lives, with 75% of all suicides committed by males. Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) fight daily to change this and are the leading movement against suicide.

It makes us immensely proud that football fans in general, and Sunderland fans in particular, have been at the forefront of raising awareness of men’s mental health in our communities, and have been wondrously generous in their support for the most vulnerable in society so often recently.

This January, a number of the Roker Report lads have banded together with the aim of;

• Raising money and awareness for CALM
• Highlighting the importance of exercise for Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Making and effort to give some consideration to our own mental (and physical) wellbeing

In order to achieve this we have set ourselves a little challenge.....

The Task

15 Roker Report writers and podcasters will attempt to emulate Sunderland’s two trips to Wembley in 2019 by running, walking and cycling the 542 mile round trip to Wembley Stadium from the Stadium of Light….. Twice.

That’s 1,084 miles in the 31 days of January!

Some of us are keen runners, walkers and cyclists while, some haven’t exercised in years... but we are all additionally motivated by the benefits exercise has on our mental and physical health!

We need your help in supporting the fantastic work CALM do in preventing suicide. Hopefully, together, we’ll be more successful than Jack Ross’ side when it comes to achieving our Wembley goals.

Every donation, no matter how small, will help CALM keep their frontline services running for the people who really need help, at the point they need it most.

We will be posting on our social media along the way using the hashtag #RR1084

And, if you can, why not start your own journey by going for a good old walk, run or bike ride yourself today?

For more information on the fantastic work CALM do, please visit their website at www.thecalmzone.net/ and their number, and those of other agencies that can support you, your friends or your family if they’re in need is below.