Three colleagues from NRL’s Keadby 2 power station project team are preparing to tackle the National Three Peaks challenge in aid of an important charitable cause.
Phil Rooke, Peter Greenall-Shacklady and Christian Hart will join friends to climb the three peaks of Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Snowdonia – a total of 42km over 24 hours. They’re undertaking the gruelling challenge to help raise awareness of the important suicide prevention work CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) do.
Who are CALM?
CALM’s movement against suicide runs a free and confidential helpline and webchat service which is accessible to anyone needing to talk through life’s problems. They report that 125 people in the UK take their own lives each week, with male deaths accounting for 75% of these suicides. In fact, suicide remains the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK.
The team at CALM work within the local community to raise awareness of the pressing issue and signpost the support services they provide – including working with universities, pubs, clubs and prisons. As well as working with national TV and media to spread the vital message that there’s always someone to talk to, and always a reason to stop and think before you do something you can’t come back from.
It’s okay if you’re not okay
Despite nationwide campaigning, mental health continues to be a taboo subject in some walks of life.
The team at CALM have been helping people in their biggest time of need since 1997 through a Department of Health pilot programme in Manchester, before formally establishing the charity in 2006.
In 2019/2020 the organisation answered 134,982 contacts for help, a staggering 42% increase from the previous year. Thanks to the invaluable support they provide they were able to prevent 646 suicides. Clearly with demand for their services increasing however, there is still a long way to go – so every pound raised helps to continue to provide their vital lifesaving services.
Joining together to fundraise for CALM
The ambitious team of climbers will have the important work the charity does at the forefront of their mind as they set off on their National Three Peaks challenge on 18th September.
Everyone wishing to make a donation to CALM can visit their JustGiving fundraising page.