BE it your dad, stepdad, partner, brother or friend, today is all about celebrating the father figures in our lives. Cards and gifts will be ripped open and families will come together to heap praise and love on the men who stand beside them. But, spare a thought for Will Castle, Stevie Scott, Harry Cleary and the families of more than 2,500 men who die prematurely in the UK each week.
For them, Father’s Day is an unpredictable rollercoaster of emotions reflecting on the huge dad-shaped holes left in their lives. That’s why they have joined forces with leading charity Movember. Their heartfelt stories feature on three of seven commemorative Father’s Day cards designed by the charity .
They aim to encourage more open conversations around both mental and physical health – to help prevent other families facing a tragic loss. Movember boss Michelle Terry, says: “There has long been a misconception and stigma surrounding men’s health that has held people back from seeking help when it’s needed. "And at a time when men’s health is taking a worrying dip against a backdrop of economic and social unrest, urgent collective action is needed to make men’s health a national priority.
"The next government must put this issue front and centre of their plans if we are to halt the unacceptable decline.” Here, Will, Stevie and Harry bravely share their stories to help others. WILL CASTLE’S father Paul was 54 when he took his own life in November 2010.
The 35-year-old comp.
