When Ryan, the founder of TotalMTB first pitched the idea of having a CalmZone tent at mountain bike events I confess that I thought this is going to be a really nice thing that no-one will actually use. We’ll be sat there looking bored as the nth emergency service. You know, like the first aid tent. It’s nice to know it’s there but you hope you don’t have to use it. I could not have been more wrong!
As Ryan suffers from anxiety he’s well aware of how overwhelming big events can be with thousands of people, booming music, dogs, bikes and kids and the cacophony of noise that results. It is a sensory overload for many people even those without any recognised mental health issue or those on the ‘spectrum’ that so many are sadly on.
Our plan was to have two gazebos at the event. One with a table of TotalMTB stickers, wristbands and information and then the ‘CalmZone’ behind it. This was basically the second gazebo but with all the sides fitted to make it a closed, calm and safe environment for anyone who needed it. It was fitted out with super comfy zero gravity chairs (that I was desperate to ‘accidentally’ put in my car at the end of the show), mood lighting and some games, toys and distractions.
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We were supported by traumaresearchuk.org/ who agreed to send a representative on both days of the show and asking for this support was the best decision we could have made!! We had the pleasure of Abira and Karen joining us and quite frankly without them we would not have been able to help the people we did. They were kind, funny and knowledgeable and both made huge round trips on the weekend to be with us and we were so grateful to have met them.
So, armed with a nervous enthusiasm and clutching a single sheet of paper that assured us erecting the gazebos would be simple (it wasn’t) myself, Sally and Jing, three intrepid TotalMTB volunteers, arrived at the Malvern’s Classic Show. Big thanks to Leighton’s vans for lending Sally and Jing a Campervan for the weekend and also to TheTonic for some CBD patches and information.
You may or may not find this hard to believe but my attempt to put up the gazebos was so staggeringly incompetent the lovely couple at the stand next door couldn’t bear to watch any longer and came over to help .. OK they did everything! A BIG shout out to www.adventuretherapy.co.uk and Amy and Daren who not only are wonderful people, but their charity is doing some amazing work in encouraging and helping people to get into our glorious countryside for their physical and mental health.
So here we were with our shiny excited faces Thursday afternoon, expecting to have to invent a series of exciting word games, puzzles, and iSpy to get through the boredom, and then it happened.
The show opened and almost immediately we began to have conversation after conversation after conversation with people brave enough to share that they either weren’t doing so well at the moment, or had a blip in the past. Quite frankly, it was a staggering response we got throughout the whole weekend. People came up to say that they only came to the show because they knew the Calm Zone was here and knew there was a bolthole in case it all got a bit too much for them. We also heard on many occasions the amazing phrase that ‘mountain biking saved my life’. People shared stories of some dark moments in their life but by hopping onto a mountain bike, getting out in the fresh air they were able to improve their mental health, improve their perspective on life and just be able to cope a little better.
It’s difficult for me to put into words how privileged we felt that people would share with us how they were feeling and how unbelievably brave it was especially for the guys because we are terrible at that sort of thing. Opening up and having the guts to say to someone “actually I’m not doing so well” or “actually, I’ve been struggling” is phenomenally difficult for a lot of guys to say. As silly as it sounds; admitting to having anxiety or depression or a host of other mental health issues is still perceived as a form of weakness and men are encouraged to ‘man up’.
We had some wonderful chats with hundreds of people, many of which were kind enough to laugh at my jokes and even bring us coffee but some of the people visiting us really really needed the opportunity to speak with either Abira or Karen, because the support they needed was beyond what we had volunteers could have provided. My default position of trying to make a joke when a conversation gets too serious was 100% not the way to go LOL which is why we needed some grown-ups there.
We were also thrilled to get some celebrity endorsement with Ben Deakin, Ollie Wilkins and ‘Chopper’ Fielder stopping by but to be honest they didn’t need to calm zone but the naughty step!!
The toys and games and stress relief items that Ryan had bought for use were loved by the kids and three families who had a child with autism were grateful because we were able to give the noise cancelling headphones so that the show was a bit more manageable for them. One of my learning points was more headphones next time and, oh my God, I almost forgot more more stickers! Now I’m a man who likes the occasional sticker, but I think we could’ve given out 3,000 if we have them with us. Kids were collecting stickers for their bikes, Adults were collecting stickers for their vans or toolboxes and it was just terrific to see so many people wearing our mental health matters wristbands and that included loads and loads of teenage boys. Teenagers spreading the message that #MentalHealthMatters is a real boost for the future.
So, would we do it again? YES, Yes and thrice Yes!
The response was so positive that we’re looking at other events where the CalmZone can add genuine, tangible value to the mountain bike community. If anyone is interested in helping at the CalmZone or has a suggestion of an event where the CalmZone would be beneficial please drop us a note at hello@totalmtb.co.uk
Chatting with so many people over the Malvern’s classic was humbling, exciting, rewarding and absolutely knackering! I’m not sure I have ever been so happily tired at the end of a weekend and that includes a stag weekend in Amsterdam!
The CalmZone was anything but calm and that exactly why it needs to be at future events.Ride more, smile more and look after your mental health.
Richard Hurst (aged 53 1/4)
PARTNERS
TotalMTB for me is a great organisation that helps give back to the mountain biking community. Helps bring awareness to something that most people can’t see within a friend or family member. Mental health is something to be mindful about. Health mind, health life.Blake Samson
Mountain biking is vital to my mental health, and I think it's rad how TotalMTB is spreading their message and building a community around this topic. It doesn't matter who you are, everyone is going through something and knowing you're understood and supported goes a long way.Mark Matthews
It gives me great pleasure to support the TotalMTB community. These guys do so much in the global cycling community to help people that need it most in an area most people struggle to talk about. I'll always be backing TotalMTB and anyone who stands alongside them.Ben Moore
