Hi my name's Andy. I think the first question people seem to ask is what is StrongMen, and there's a usual answer of it's a bereavement charity. But to me, it's so much more than that.
I lost my dad in October of 2020. It was very sudden after suffering a stroke. The toughest part to it, was not being there when it happened. It all happened when COVID was rife and so we weren't allowed to the hospital to see him. That sense of helplessness and at a loss of "could I have done more?" really hit me hard.
I'd been at a loss of what to do and that's when I got in contact with the NHS about feeling a bit down and low and they recommend I get in touch with StrongMen.
Now, when I said they were a bereavement charity yes that is correct, but they are so much more than that.
In the past 5 or so months I have been using them, I've managed to talk to like minded individuals who are going through the same sort of loss that I am. It's that other person to connect to, who is impartial to everything and who can relate.
Yes friends and family are important, but sometimes you just need that person there to just listen. Aaron was that person for me.
StrongMen offer a Man2Man peer support service. I've never met Aaron in person, but those phone calls we've had, whether it’s about bereavement or not anything to do with that, or just a chat, have honestly, lifted me up. Made me more determined. More driven.
And so, it comes to here and now. Yes, I will always miss my dad, but StrongMen have made me feel like I can be proud of who I am and that my dad would be proud too.
In September I was given the opportunity by StrongMen and I shall be conquering Snowdon. Not just with the support of them, and not just for me, but for my dad too - Andrew Allen
