Six deaf men take on epic cycle to highlight barriers to accessing healthcare

A group of men from Bristol have limbered up to take on an epic cycle, from John O’Groats to Land’s End, to raise awareness and money for deaf men’s mental health.

Mark Pickford, Russell Basey, Rory Mortimore, Ed Stevens, Steve Bent and Martyn Brook, with James Barnes and Trevor Wilson as support crew, know from their own experiences how important this issue is and the lack of support available.

The six are aiming to complete the journey in ten days and have already raised more than £2,300.

Asked how the challenge came about, Russell, a chief software engineer, says “Rory and I have done multiple challenges over the years and wanted a new one. Bristol to Land’s End was done by Mark, Steve and Martyn six or seven years ago, with Rory and me as support crew. This time, we wanted a bigger challenge: It was John O’Groats to Land’s End (JOGLE) in the end. It was an idea in 2019 to do in 2020 but Covid took over!”

Russell continues “Some of us know each other from school, others from the deaf community in Bristol, also Rory, me and Ed belong to the local Tri club.”

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=408546254538412

The group wanted the challenge to focus on deaf men’s health because of their own experiences.

“Through Covid I have experienced mental issues due to isolation and lack of social time and being stuck within four walls working from home too,” explains Russell.

“Also recent health issues had an effect.  I could not see as a deaf person who I could go to or speak to, and I felt embarrassed.”

The lack of information on mental health in BSL was an issue and not being able to have accessible information on how to cope or deal with it.

Russell says: “I sadly know other deaf men who have taken their lives because of this and would not want the same for others, it is important to have this resolved and let others know we are there to help in some way.”

The six men at the John O’Groats sign as they set off on their epic cycle – photo: Trevor Wilson

Steve, an outreach senior support worker, says: “In my experience, there is a lack of access for deaf men’s health. Without a BSL interpreter it is so difficult to communicate with the doctor or consultant at the hospital, this means a lot of deaf people’s health suffers more than hearing people in health care.”

Rory, a preparing for adulthood facilitator, shares this view, saying:  “There is currently no place for deaf men in the Bristol area to meet, discuss, share and access information about health or mental health.

“Depression, feeling low and having suicidal thoughts are more common than people think but there is nowhere for deaf men to go and have the opportunity to ask for face to face support informally. There are also barriers facing deaf men due to communication needs on top of finding it hard to share feelings or asking for support. We will be asking what deaf men feel is important to them.”

Repair break! Martyn had to change his wheel along the route – photo: James Barnes

James, one of the support crew for the cycle, says their aim is to “make all health care accessible in BSL.

“We have the BSL Act which was passed in April 2022 and came into effect on June, 28 so all health care providers have a responsibility to ensure that deaf BSL users have effective access to all healthcare and facilities including mental health support,” says James.

“Currently, we have Deaf4Deaf and Sign Health services in England for BSL users but all NHS services in the Bristol, B&NES, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and other surrounding areas need to include BSL counselling and high quality mental health support in BSL so deaf BSL users could have the best possible support to achieve the most effective recovery from any mental health issues.”

One way to do this, James suggests, is to have deaf BSL specialist advocacy officers to support deaf BSL users who might struggle to understand the information in even the layman English (let alone the health-related jargoned English).

Ed Stevens, a graduate arboriculturist, and Martyn, a self-employed carpenter, are excited about continuing the challenge.

“We want to do a new challenge and a new experience, once in a lifetime,” says Martyn.

“We want to achieve it from start to finish and have a good experience together.”

He has done a cycle from Bristol to Land’s End before, fundraising for Bristol deaf football club and wants to do more charity events.

End of day one, the cyclists sit down for a rest – photo: Trevor Wilson

Mark Pickford, a gas certified plumber, is looking out for the safety of everyone, saying: “My concern on our journey is we may not hear cars coming from behind to overtake us so we have to keep looking behind us to make sure the area is safe.”

Asked how it’s going so far, Mark adds: “We are all doing well so far and hoping to keep it that way – I can feel my legs starting to get tired.”

Centre for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People said on Facebook “Good luck to the group of deaf men and their support team, who are taking part in the John O’Groats to Land’s End cycle challenge! They are doing this to break down barriers for deaf men in Bristol so that they can get better access to vital information about health and mental health.”

Find out more and donate via: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bristoldeafmenhealth?utm_term=49Y3x4AjE&fbclid=IwAR0OV7ETQLn1XisA0xz0ZWi5dJOpjiBSK76DGMUeUYSQCwnVi1U7BfJWebs

Follow the group’s progress via: www.facebook.com/Follow-the-6-deaf-Men-cycling-JOGLE-109521891807478/

Caitlin Quinn is reporting on Kingswood, deaf and disabled communities as part of Bristol24/7’s community reporter scheme, a project which aims to tell stories from areas of Bristol traditionally under-served by the mainstream media

Main photo: Trevor Wilson 

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