20/09/2025
27th September
Last Friday I met Darren Clark, a former Royal Marine who, alongside his former colleague and friend Danny Foster, is preparing for a huge challenge here in Bexhill. Next Saturday, 27 September, the two of them will spend 24 hours flipping tractor tyres along the promenade – from Galley Hill to South Cliff.
They’re not doing it for fun. They’re doing it for something far more important: raising awareness of mental health and su***de, and raising funds for Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), a national su***de prevention charity.
Darren shared with me how both he and Danny have faced their own mental health struggles, and how this year they lost friends and colleagues to su***de. They wanted to do something powerful, something that would break the silence and stigma.
Since leaving the Marines, both Darren and Danny have built personal training businesses, and they’ve seen the impact physical activity can have on mental health. That’s why they’ve chosen such a tough, physical challenge.
Darren put it very well when he said the tyre flip is more than just a stunt – it’s a symbol. A huge tyre represents the heavy burden of depression, a weight too much to carry alone. But when someone steps in to help, the load becomes lighter. That’s the message, don’t tackle it alone. Reach out. Someone will always stand by you.
Su***de is the single biggest killer of men under 50. Darren and Danny’s determination to do something about this is inspiring, and I’ve committed to working with them – not just to raise funds for CALM, but also to build practical, community-based support for men’s mental health here in Bexhill.
Their challenge kicks off at 10am on Saturday 27 September. I’d encourage you to head down to the seafront, cheer them on, and, if you can, support their fundraising through the link to CALM above. Do visit Darren's page more information - SPEARHEAD FITNESS UK.
