Champion boxer faces The Longest Round in fundraising ultra challenge

Press Box PR is honoured to support former European and Commonwealth champion boxer, Darren Barker’s The Longest Round challenge by becoming sole media partner.

This extraordinary endurance challenge will see Barker and his team push themselves to the max, taking on an 1,800-mile journey across four countries and two bodies of water, starting in Edinburgh today (19 August) and finishing in Morocco in September.

The challenge is deeply personal to Barker, as a long-term proponent of men’s mental health. It aims to raise awareness of men's mental health, helping to break the stigma and fundraise for life-saving mental health support for the suicide-prevention charity, CALM, in memory of legendary boxer, Ricky Hatton. The challenge was inspired by Hatton’s legacy of encouraging people to open up and break the stigma around struggling in silence.

Darren Barker said: “It’s a real honour to be able to do this challenge, and hopefully raise awareness of suicide prevention and mental health support from organisations such as CALM.

“I’m doing this for Ricky, who worked closely with CALM, and said that while he was here he wanted to help anyone struggling. The Longest Round is my bit to continue championing that message, of saying it’s okay to open up, talk, and ask for support.”

Alex Donohue, managing director and founder of Press Box PR, said: “We are proud to support the Longest Round and Darren's epic challenge raising funds for such an important cause. The Press Box PR team support Darren every step, pedal and stroke of the way as he helps ensure no one has to struggle in silence."

The full route is as follows:

• Cycling from Edinburgh to Dover 

• Swimming the English Channel (21 miles)

• Cycling from Calais to Gibraltar

• Open‑water swim across the Strait of Gibraltar into Morocco (9 miles)

Press Box PR will also organise a welcome party to meet Darren as he arrives in Gibraltar ahead of the final leg of his epic challenge.

Simon Gunning, CEO at CALM, added: “Ricky’s passion for raising awareness so others could find the help they needed was second to none. In his first interview as a CALM Ambassador, Ricky said that he believed his job was to help people. He said: “Bad times won’t last forever - you think they will, but they won’t if you go and speak to someone. No one should ever be scared to admit they need help. I promise you, it’s the best thing you’ll ever do”.

“Darren’s not only raising money for CALM’s services with his incredible challenge, but is continuing the message Ricky brilliantly championed when working with us. We can’t thank him enough for choosing to raise funds for CALM and show there’s always a way forward if you’re struggling.”

Please donate, if you can to: www.justgiving.com/page/thelongestround 

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is a suicide prevention charity fighting to reduce the devastating impact of suicide in the UK. 

Its website has loads of tools and resources packed with practical, non-clinical advice to make talking and managing mental health easier. There is a life-saving helpline for anyone affected by suicide or suicidal thoughts and there’s a free mental health app called CALMzone.

You can find more support on their website: www.thecalmzone.net