Darren Rushton carrying around 8kg weight for entire month to raise awareness of poor mental health

Darren Rushton is no stranger to a challenge – and his latest aims to show the heavy burden that mental health struggles can be for people.

The 34-year-old veteran, who owns the Heroes Burgers restaurant on Cheetham Street, is part way through his latest challenge of carrying 8 kilos’ worth of weight around for an entire month.

Darren will carry the 5kg kettlebell and 3kg chain around until 2 April, in order to raise funds for mental health charity CALM – Campaign Against Living Miserably. CALM provides support for anyone in need to prevent suicide, the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK and the cause of 18 deaths every day.

The challenge typically sees people cuffing a 3kg medicine ball on their wrist for seven days, Darren explained, to portray the burden that poor mental health can be.

He continued: “One in four adults experience mental illness, and many more of us know and care for people who do. Talking openly about how we feel can help. It may not sound that heavy but being tied to it continuously is a significant burden.

“The weight becomes a physical, visual and tangible representation of the invisible burden of mental health so many of us can experience. We need to remove stigma from mental health and keep focused on talking.”

He said: “This is something that has affected me personally as well as family members and good friends of mine, so it’s a very important subject to me and something very close to my heart.

“It’s awkward more than anything, but I keep going, regardless.”

And at the end of the month-long challenge, Darren will host a 'Burger Challenge' charity event at his restaurant, inviting people to tackle a 32-ounce burger with bacon and cheese, plus skin-on fries smothered in nacho cheese sauce and beer-battered onion rings.

 

 

The event is a closed one with around 24 participants and is expected to raise hundreds of pounds for CALM. Staff will also be donating their wages from the night to the cause.

Donations can be made via JustGiving.

Help and support

If you feel like you, or someone close to you requires support, you can call CALM between 5pm and 12 midnight every day on 0800 58 58 58.

If you need immediate help, please call emergency services on 999 or The Samaritans on 116 123.