"It has been 10 years since I lost my wife to cancer. It has been a challenging time and I’ve been feeling really down and having some dark thoughts.
My sons, who were both wee boys when she passed, are now young men embarking on their adult lives. I have been feeling as though I am not as important in their day-to-day lives. Even though I know that’s not true, the mind plays funny games with our psyche and self-worth and, as a result, it has left me feeling low.
Fortunately, the circle of friends I have developed through the biking community since being involved in the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride has been brilliant.
We all have our challenges in one way or another, but it is accepted that if you need support then you can just ask and someone will be there to listen to your woes without judgement.
We’ve created an informal support network where we look out for each other whenever and wherever required.
The guys have been very supportive and have helped me overcome my own personal challenges by allowing me to talk and express my sadness. It has given me the strength to talk openly to my sons about how I’ve been feeling.
Mental health is often misunderstood and still comes with a lot of stigma attached. Men are historically conditioned to bottle things up, “to straighten up’ and get through it.
There’s still a long way to go in changing attitudes but thanks to the Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride and Movember, the tide is changing."
