Stefan Smith from Coalisland has set himself the challenge of cycling for 24 hours between 6-7 December in aid of the depression charity for Northern Ireland, AWARE. Stefan describes how his personal experience of mental illness has inspired the challenge: “My own mental health journey has been a rollercoaster ride. For over a decade, I have been suffering from poor mental health. I’ve had wee glimpses of depression and would experience bad anxiety – always putting myself into the worst scenario. I would have sat in my room in pure darkness, ignored friends and family and not shown up to work. Growing up in a rural town, I really thought this was normal.” Stefan, who has already surpassed his £500 fundraising target, describes how his recovery journey has driven his desire to encourage others to get help and raise funds for mental health services in Northern Ireland: “The more I’ve grown up, the more I’m open about how I’m feeling and feel confident within myself. I go to therapy anytime I feel really low or need to get stuff off my chest. I also train five days a week, play GAA or do a couple of sea dips a week to release those endorphins.” He added: “I want to encourage people not to be afraid to open up to someone. There’s nothing wrong with having a mental illness, and no matter what, there is always a reason for you to be here, and good things will happen to you; just dig deep and get the help you need. I’ve seen for myself what AWARE have done for others and how they’ve changed people’s lives. The 24-hour cycle is going to be a tough challenge, but the satisfaction I’ll get once I complete it, knowing that I’ve raised money that is possibly going to save someone’s life - that beats anything I’ve done in my life.” Margaret McCrossan, Community and Events Fundraising Offer at AWARE NI, said, “AWARE’s vision is a future where everyone can speak openly about their mental health and access the support appropriate to their needs. Advocates like Stefan ensure we can continue to make steps towards this goal. We are so grateful for his support, and we wish him all the best for his challenge on 6 December.” To donate or find out more about Stefan’s fundraiser for AWARE, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stefansmith-24hourcycle Tags: AWARE | Depression | Fundraising | Mental Health | Northern Ireland