A Leeds dad has raised hundreds in support of men's mental health by deadlifting a car weighing a tonne 107 times.
Mark Kelly, 43, has struggled with his own mental health for four years, and has tried to take his own life four times. After joining mental health support group Men In Need Together, he's keen to encourage men who are struggling to speak up.
He lifted a 1000kg Peugeot 208 107 times in just four and a half hours. 107 is the number of men who've taken their own lives in the last five years multiplied by Mark's own four attempts.
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Mark, from Otley, said: "Men’s mental health is never spoken about and there is no support for it, so I decided I was going to do something daft to raise awareness of it. I go to a group called MINT (Men in Need Together) Otley where people just go and are able to break down the barriers.
“It is about raising that awareness. I might be big and scary but actually I might be struggling.
“The amount of times I go to the gym and you walk in and ask someone ‘are you alright’ and when you ask them again a couple of minutes later you are in tears with them. I dyed my hair pink yesterday and am covered in tattoos. If somebody like me can ask for help anyone can.
“'Man up' isn’t a phrase anymore. No one should say that. You should be able to say ‘I am struggling here, I don’t know where to go.’
“When you go to the NHS there are waiting lists for everything. You go for counselling and they say you can see someone in six months time.
“I know the NHS is struggling and I understand that but there needs to be other places for men when they suddenly go ‘I need some help.’ I had young people watching come up to me and say ‘there is nothing for young people with mental health issues.”
Mark, who works for the NHS, had originally expected the challenge to take him all day. But he managed to complete the impressive feat in much less time at Club Energy gym in front of 100 people and his two coaches.
Mark added: "The challenge was interesting. I thought it would take from 9am until 6pm. I have never done a challenge like this before and I was terrified.
“I knew my body would not give but I was worried my head was going to go. I was worried about whether I was actually going to be able to finish it.
“The energy around it meant I was on my game and I did it in four and a half hours. After it finished I was not only physically tired but also quite emotional. I went straight to bed at around 3pm.”
Mark has already raised £540 for MINT - smashing his £500 target, and is intending to complete another challenge next year to raise more money. You can donate to Mark's JustGiving page by clicking here.
MINT has support groups for men in Morley, Otley, Wakefield, and Middleton. Head to their website for more information about how to join.
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