After losing three close male friends to suicide, Rachel decided to take action. She is now fundraising for Men’s Minds Matter, determined to make a difference for men who might be struggling in silence.

Brett and Chris had been in Rachel’s life since childhood. The two had been friends since playgroup, and she had known them both since their first year of school. Brett was a classic “man’s man”—quiet, well-liked, but struggling with a complicated family life. He kept his emotions locked away. After a car accident, he developed an addiction to painkillers, and suddenly, he was gone. Suicide took him away before he could find a way through his pain.

Brett’s death devastated Chris. Overcome with survivor’s guilt, he turned to alcohol, a crutch that soon became a chain. Though help was there, he felt unable to reach for it. Not long after, Chris, too, died by suicide.

Rachel’s third friend’s death was even more shocking. He had a great job, a loving family, and a strong support network. To those around him, he had it all. His suicide came without warning, a stark reminder that outward appearances don’t always reflect inner battles.

Rachel has struggled with depression herself. For a long time, she relied on medication, but she always felt there had to be another way. She wasn’t an athlete—she jokes that she used to get winded just walking up the stairs—but something changed when she started moving. First, she walked. Then she walked further. Eventually, she started running. And as she ran, she felt something shift. Her mind cleared, her mood lifted, and she found the strength to stop relying on medication. Now, whenever a bad day comes, she laces up her running shoes and finds her rhythm.

Recognising the power of movement, Rachel wanted to inspire others. She organized a 10k race at work, bringing colleagues together for a cause that deeply resonated. Many of the men she works with spend weeks away from home, often living alone in hotels. Their jobs are filled with constant, low-level danger—hazards that become life-threatening if focus wavers.

Rachel says:

Everyone at work knew someone who had taken their own life. Everyone had a reason to care. My fundraising efforts struck a chord, turning personal grief into collective action.

Her mission is clear: to support men like her friends, men who carry burdens too heavy to bear alone. By running for Men’s Minds Matter, Rachel isn’t just raising money—she’s raising awareness, breaking the silence, and proving that no one has to struggle alone.