Joshua Knight

The importance of Mental Health

Thursday 17th Apr 2025

Growing up, I spent most of my childhood in the care of others. I was lucky, I was always surrounded by people who loved me. I grew up in the care of others, not because my own Mum didn't love me, but had mental health issues of her own, with no support, she was not equipped to raise me on her own. Which is where Foster Care features in my life. When I was 17 years of age, mental health played its part again, and i left home, homeless for a period of 6 months before being housed with another loving family. 

Not many others are as lucky as I am, being raised in stable family environments who raised me as they did with their own children. 

45% of young people in foster care have a diagnosable mental health disorder. Which is only worsened at the age of leaving care, 18, where most support ceases to exist in their entirety and those young people are pushed out into the world on their own. 

The impact of these is a higher risk of suicide, higher rates of hospitalisation, difficulties with employment and the list goes on. 

I have had my own difficulties with mental health, but never as severe as a lot of people out there who have no one to support them. 

It's for this reason that I do this ride. In the hopes that the money that I raise, no matter how small, can make an ipact for positive change. So that we can raise awareness not only of the problems surrounding mental health, but also so that we can raise awareness of the support that is out there. 

My hope is to share a vairety of stories around the difficulties I have faced in the build up to the DGR, if only to give a snippet of what life in care can be like. But to remember, that compared to others, I've been lucky, my story has a happy ending. For others, this isn't always the case. 

I'm Riding for Men's Health in The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride

Thursday 17th Apr 2025 On Sunday the 18th of May 2025, I'm riding in The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride with fellow men and women across the globe to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer and men's mental health on behalf of Movember. Men die on average 6 years earlier than women and for largely preventable reasons. The number of men that are suffering is growing, and we need to do something about that. So, before I press my tweed and polish my boots, I'm asking you to join me in raising funds and awareness for these causes by donating what you can for this meaningful cause and to help the men we love, live happier and healthier lives.