Newton Aycliffe Sports Club FC raise over £1500 for ManHealth.
Wear Valley Sunday League Team, Newton Aycliffe Sports Club FC, made the decision to participate in Movember to help raise money for a worthy local not for profit charity. Team Captain, Will Kelly, persuaded a number of players and management to Brave the Shave to help support ManHealth, a Community Interest Company who provide support to men through a range of methods including training and peer support. They support men experiencing mental health issues through peer support groups which are all ran by male facilitators who have a lived experience and campaign to raise awareness about men’s health.
The facts are that working aged men (25-54 years old) account for the largest number of suicide deaths in the UK. Suicide is the biggest killer of men aged 50 or under.
• These men are also the least likely to receive any kind of support.
• They don’t talk about it with their friends.
• They don’t share with their family.
• They certainly don’t seek professional treatment.
• They are the victims of problematic thinking that says mental illness is an unmanly signs of weakness.
10 members of the Football Club completed the task of growing moustaches during November and provided weekly updates on social media, showing the progress (or lack of it in some cases) and canvassed rigorously for sponsorship during the month to hit the target set of £500.
By the end of the month, not only was the target achieved, but actually trebled, raising over £1500 for ManHealth.
Club Chairman for the Sunday Team, Paul Eales, said “This is a fantastic achievement for such a worthy cause. Some of our team have either gone through difficult times themselves or have friends and colleagues who are either going through or have gone through difficult times also. We were proud to help support ManHealth, to try and raise awareness within our Town, a Town which has seen mental health issues sadly affect so many. We hope what we have raised, both in terms of money and more importantly, awareness, will go some way to helping these guys continue their great work in our local community”
Should anyone wish to find out more information about ManHealth and the fantastic work they do, or if you wish to donate then please log on to: https://www.manhealth.org.uk
