MAN v FAT Maidenhead member Ben George will be hitting the streets soon as part of the Baton of Hope UK Tour 25.
Ben, who has been a part of the Maidenhead club since 2023 has been selected to be a Baton Bearer for the Baton of Hope UK Tour 25, which is set to be the biggest suicide prevention initiative that the UK has ever seen.
The Baton of Hope UK are part of a growing movement aspiring to a zero-suicide society and will simply not tolerate more than 6,000 suicide deaths per year in the UK (as currently) when most suicides are preventable.
They have a vision of a society where suicide and suicide prevention are openly and widely discussed, inspire hope through action, where people are suitably supported, and where everyone plays their part in realising this vision.
In 2025, The Baton of Hope will be traveling to 20 locations across the UK, being passed from person to person, all affected by suicide in one way or another.
Ben told us: “I will be one of those people carrying the Baton, and I will be doing so in Basingstoke on the 25th of September. In order for the charity to continue its vital work in supporting suicide prevention, they need to raise money and as a Baton Bearer, I am raising funds to support their mission.
“I came across the Baton of Hope in a news article which said they were recruiting for volunteers to become baton bearers for the 2025 tour over various parts of the country. I read their page and what they were about and because of my own experiences I instantly wanted to be involved.
“I believe that every member of our community should have access to the right support at the right time, suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 and women under 35. With your help and support, we can break the stigma around suicide and save more lives.”
As Ben mentions, his interest in the Baton of Hope Tour comes from a very personal perspective and he’s keen to get out and do his bit in Basingstoke.
He added: “My connection to the charity is incredibly personal. The charity is aiming to achieve a suicide free society and to encourage people to communicate and rid free people from the stigma of talking about suicide.
“Throughout my adult life I have struggled my mental health to varying degrees. These struggles have sadly led me to attempt to end my own life on two occasions. During these times I became increasingly withdrawn from the loved ones in my life, and crucially I stopped talking about my thoughts and how I was feeling. Which is why it is so crucial we encourage people to talk about suicide.
“The pain that I felt at that time and the pain I brought to those around me is not something I ever wish for anybody to have to go through. This is why I am so proud to be a part of the Baton of Hope Tour 2025.”
Ben will take on his leg of the tour with the full backing of his MAN v FAT Maidenhead club mates, who’ve been very supportive during his two year stint with the club.
And he is hugely appreciative of the guys he shares his weekly sessions with.
He said: “Being a part of MAN v FAT has been a huge support for my mental health. I have always struggled with self confidence, self belief and self doubt and not once at MAN v FAT have I felt judged, ridiculed or criticised.
“I have had nothing but support from day one, starting with the Ciaran the coach at first weigh in on the day of joining right down to the players, everybody has been great and I cannot thank them enough.
“If ever there is a bad week on the scales or the pitch there is always an encouraging word from several people about how it doesn’t matter and they are always quick to point out the good you did, they never focus on the bad.
“More importantly at those times when the mental health struggles are there that’s when it really counts. The messages of support are still there, even the occasional private message to offer a chat away from the group if it’s needed to offer some extra support. It’s honestly fantastic and joining MAN v FAT is one of the best things I have ever done.”
You can donate to Ben’s fundraising here – we wish him well with his efforts!
