Cycling event aims for £50k after man's death

Christy Lambe, from Birmingham, died two years ago

A charity aims to raise £50,000 through a cycling event, after the death of a construction worker.

Christy Lambe, 30, from Birmingham, struggled with his mental health for most of his adult life and died on 9 July 2022, his family said.

Cycle for Christy will see 26 riders going from Birmingham to Clonaslee in the Republic of Ireland, the family's home village where he is buried.

The event, hosted by The Christy Lambe Foundation, will start on 6 July and finish on the anniversary of his passing.

Michael Lambe, 40, said his sibling, the youngest of four brothers, was fun and compassionate.

He added: "After he died, we found out a lot about all the people that he'd helped kind of quietly, who had their own mental health challenges, anxiety issues.

"It was really touching to hear how he'd helped those guys."

Mr Lambe is managing director of the family business, M. Lambe Construction in Birmingham, which had the idea to create the charity.

Setting the charity up meant Christy Lambe's "compassion and that care he showed for others could continue to help people for years to come", his brother said.

Brother Michael Lambe said it was "really touching" to hear how he had helped others

The foundation gives support and money, partnering with organisations such as homeless charities Standing Tall and Tabor Living, and construction industry charity the Lighthouse Club.

Asked what he thought were the particular struggles in construction that might be difficult for people, Mr Lambe said: "I think [it's] the age-old problem of men talking about their problems sitting right at the heart of it.

"Obviously construction historically is a very male-dominated industry."

The brother added he thought "you also see higher levels of drink and drug dependency".

He stated: "If you have substance abuse linked with not having an outlet to share when you are having difficulties with your mental health, I think it adds up to a toxic combination really."

At the company, which brought in a wellbeing manager in 2018, people "from the top to the bottom.. leapt to support the family to relieve us of the pressure of running the business and it gave us time to grieve," he added.

A GoFundMe appeal for money for the cycling event will start on Monday.

Mr Lambe said participants were "deep in training", adding : "It's helped a lot of us get fit and whilst none of us have done this distance so far, I think it's [going to be] great fun."

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