GS MOSSA has demonstrated that collective passion for all things cycling can lead to powerful outcomes. Moved by the news of Martin from Nieuw Bos Cycling Club, GS MOSSA members cycled in his memory around the lanes he loved in the New Forest. Martin tragically died by suicide in 2020.

GS MOSSA has demonstrated that collective passion for all things cycling can lead to powerful outcomes. Moved by the news of Martin from Nieuw Bos Cycling Club, GS MOSSA members cycled in his memory around the lanes he loved in the New Forest. Martin tragically died by suicide in 2020.

This news did not sit well with us. We put our heads together knowing mental health was an important topic and we wanted to do more. MOSSA Mind week was born. In the depths of lockdown and winter, GS MOSSA members smashed our collective mileage and fundraising targets whilst raising awareness of mental health.

The GS MOSSA spirit is like no other. Our principles are embodied through all of us and whilst cycling is often an individual pursuit, we recognise that the club is greater than the sum of its parts. With typical MOSSA spirit, and fire in our bellies from MOSSA Mind week, we knew we could do more, wanted to do more, needed to do more and so we went in search of a charity to support whose principles aligned with ours. This is where our journey with CALM began.

CALM, the Campaign Against Living Miserably, is leading a movement to help prevent suicide.

Every week 125 people in the UK take their own lives.

75% of all UK suicides are male.

Suicide is the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK and the cause of 18 deaths every day.

These are alarming statistics and most of our members are within this age group. CALM exists to change this.

Whilst CALM is known for its fight against male suicide and raising awareness to this silent emergency, it is not just for men or suicide prevention. CALM provides support for anyone who needs it. They believe we can all help fight suicide and battles with mental health (abuse, anxiety, drugs/alcohol, body image, financial stress, loneliness, work issues etc). Together. 

Through many conversations it was clear that CALM and GS MOSSA share the same principles and spirit.  GS MOSSA aims to use the brand and club activity to support CALM and carry on the conversation around mental health, helping dispel the taboo that still surrounds it.

GS MOSSA hopes to help divert people we know and care about to the experts at CALM when intervention and support is needed.

Author

Dave Mattingley