Separate challenges 'shining a light' on men's mental health

(l-r) Aaron Oliver and Dave Walters are both raising money for Rodger & Steve's Place on the Isle of Wight

Aaron Oliver and Dave Walters are taking part in separate endurance challenges to raise money for a men's mental health organisation on the Isle of Wight.

Both say the cause is "deeply personal" to them and by taking on these challenges they hope to "shine a light on its importance".

Aaron is walking 365 miles from the Isle of Wight to Newcastle Football Club. Dave will be cycling 250 miles from the island to Sheffield.

They're raising funds for Rodger & Steve's Place, a community walk-in centre in Ryde run by the not-for-profit organisation Men Only IOW.

Rodger & Steve's Place is named after two local men who took their own lives and aims to offer a safe, non-judgemental space for men to talk without pressure.

Managing Director of Men Only Isle of Wight, Karl Hart, said Aaron's and Dave's journeys were a reminder that mental health was not a private battle, it was something that could be faced as a community.

He said they were "doing something remarkable, not for medals or applause, but to show what men are capable of when they push forward together."

Aaron Oliver said he wanted to highlight how he and many others struggle in silence every day with their mental health

Aaron set out on his walking challenge on 29 August and is due to finish on 6 September after what he has described as nine days of immense physical and emotional endurance.

He prepared for the journey for months and his training included long walks, bike rides and sessions in the gym.

He said: "Too many men face their struggles alone, often feeling unable to speak out or seek support."

He said he had endured "sunburn, ankle pain and dodgy knees as well as torrential rain and an unsettling encounter with a herd of sheep".

(l-r) Dave Walters with Karl Hart at the open space centre in Ryde

Dave begins his bike ride on 22 September and expects his route to Sheffield to take five days.

He said: "The ride was born from heartbreak, but it's powered by love, purpose, and the belief that something better is possible."

He is riding in memory of his brother Steve who killed himself in January 2023 at the age of 45.

He said: "I am so much looking forward to starting this cycle ride.

"It's going to be hard, I have no doubt about that however I am determined to complete this."

The open centre in Ryde is called Rodger and Steve's place and is open to all men

Karl Hart from Men Only Isle of Wight said: "Dave's brother Steve was a friend of mine. He had a big heart and a big personality, and his loss is still incredibly hard to talk about.

"When Men Only found a permanent home in Ryde, we named it after Steve and another local man.

"Their names are on the door because their stories are at the heart of why we exist."