‘No more permanent solutions for temporary problems’: 24-hour 'Grapplethon' fights mental health stigma
“If through doing this we manage to change someone’s perspective or save their life, then doing this is well worth it.”
A martial arts academy in Preston is soon to host a 24-hour ‘Grapplethon’ in the name of men’s mental health.
Members of the Roger Gracie Academy Preston will be wrestling for a full day on September 26, in an effort to raise money for men’s mental health and suicide bereavement support.
The fourth-ever ‘Grapplethon’ event comes eight years after the death of their friend and teammate Gary Whittell, who took his own life nine years ago.
He was 43 years old.
“We have the slogan ‘No more permanent solutions for temporary problems’,” said RGA instructor Mark Brown.
“We’re a Brazilian jiu jitsu academy, and we open our doors to any other people who practice jiu jitsu to come along and have a roll. The goal is to keep the mats as busy as possible for a 24-hour period.
“Various people have certain goals that they may set for themselves. Some people try to get 50 rounds in, we’ve had people go in for 100 rounds for a personal challenge, but it’s more about trying to get the jiu jitsu community together.”
Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to mental health charities Andy’s Man Club and SOBS, which supports those who have been bereaved by suicide.
September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day.
In England, men are three times more likely than women to die from suicide, with those aged 50-54 at the highest risk of all.
Data from the Office for National Statistics shows the risk of suicide is slightly elevated for white and mixed-race men, but more than doubled for men who identify as gay or bisexual.
The idea for the Grapplethon was first sparked by fellow instructor Michal Mawek and Pauline Whittell, Gary’s wife.
Mark said the event had been launched to break down stigmas around poor mental health.
“There's quite a few people here, unfortunately, who've had personal experience of losing someone they've known through suicide,” he said. “And really the message, especially with Andy's Man Club, is just to get people, especially men, to open up and talk because there's a stigma around not coming across as being weak.
“A lot of people come here just for the mental health benefits of doing jiu jitsu, because exercise in general is great for your endorphins and making you feel better. You come in with the weight of the world on your shoulders and you have a few rolls, and then you leave in such a better frame of mind.
“That’s what the Grapplethon is all about.”
Mark is now hoping for this year’s Grapplethon to be the biggest one yet.
“I always get nervous [before the Grapplethon],” he said. “The goal is to keep the mats busy, and I always worry about people maybe not turning up. But it’s always surprising when I see so many people turning up.
“Over the last three years, we’ve raised over £10,000, which is fantastic. Every year I am humbled about the number of people turning up. Gary’s son, Pete, still trains in jiu jitsu and he drops in quite frequently. Gary’s wife, Pauline, and his daughters call in. It really reinforces why we do it.
“I can talk about two people this year who’ve had an experience of men taking their own lives, and there is still this stigma about people opening up. If they just do that, or if they approach Andy’s Man Club, and they can speak to someone and change the trajectory that this person is on, then it’s all worth it.
“If through doing this we manage to change someone’s perspective or save their life, then doing this is well worth it.”
This year’s Grapplethon will be held at noon at the Roger Gracie Academy, Preston, on September 26.
A link to the fundraiser is available here.
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