--- layout: post title: "Ladies and Gentlefolk, do you want to save a life?" date: 2018-09-17 --- #### A moment of your time, if you would… ![](/img/1*2J4xTO7JYBYA3dcMwwGSlw.jpeg) > TL;DR: Please read the whole post but if you really can’t — It would mean a lot to me if you’d consider sponsoring me in the Gentleman’s Ride — more info here: **30/09/18** *Hundreds *of countries. *Tens of thousands* of classic bikes and best-dressed riders. *Millions *raised for the noble cause of men’s health, mental and physical. 30th September is the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride — and on that day I will proudly become one of the tens of thousands across the globe. This cause is one all too close to my heart — as you may well know, I’ve already suffered my own struggles with mental health. [**A story I never thought I could tell — a confession and a plea** *A simple heart inscribed in midnight black ink on a lover’s skin. An innocuous question heralding a world-shattering…*medium.com](https://medium.com/frenetic-scribblings/a-story-i-never-thought-i-could-tell-a-confession-and-a-plea-472f4aa88bd6 "https://medium.com/frenetic-scribblings/a-story-i-never-thought-i-could-tell-a-confession-and-a-plea-472f4aa88bd6")[](https://medium.com/frenetic-scribblings/a-story-i-never-thought-i-could-tell-a-confession-and-a-plea-472f4aa88bd6)The simple fact is, mental health awareness is sorely lacking. Let alone treatment. For men it is even worse. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… [**ICYMI: Tattoos are bigger than suicide.** *Thousands of people are tweeting about ink, while less than fifty are talking about male suicide. 12 men a day in the…*medium.com](https://medium.com/@aronajones/icymi-tattoos-are-bigger-than-suicide-3db4a9b1775f "https://medium.com/@aronajones/icymi-tattoos-are-bigger-than-suicide-3db4a9b1775f")[](https://medium.com/@aronajones/icymi-tattoos-are-bigger-than-suicide-3db4a9b1775f)In the UK, suicide is the **SINGLE BIGGEST** killer of men under 45. I don’t know what to call that other than *bullshit*. Yes, bullshit. It’s bullshit that that statistic is anywhere near as high as it is. It’s bullshit that this isn’t splashed across national news every damned day. It’s bullshit because *we need to do better*. That’s without even starting to mention the other battle the Ride fights — any battle with cancer is worth supporting. If you’re a rider, I’d strongly encourage you to swing a leg over for this — but you almost certainly don’t need encouraging! In short… Friends! Followers! Family! Strangers! *Ladies and Gentlefolk,* Do you want to save a life? Please, please, please, join me. Lend me your voices, your spare change. Let’s fight to end the stigma of mental health, and against the wraith of cancer. [**Arona Jones** *This year I am taking part in The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride to raise funds and awareness for mens health and…*www.gentlemansride.com](https://www.gentlemansride.com/rider/AronaJones "https://www.gentlemansride.com/rider/AronaJones")[](https://www.gentlemansride.com/rider/AronaJones)Don’t do it for *me*. Do it for your uncles, brothers, fathers, friends.