Members of our MAN v FAT Soccer league in Sundown Park, New York, are about to hit the streets to lift funds for a vastly worthy trigger.
A bunch of gamers will take part within the Out Of The Darkness stroll to lift funds for the American Basis for Suicide Prevention, which takes place on October fifth.
Their fundraising has been led by Sundown Park member Scott Henkle, who has a protracted standing affiliation with the organisation. He advised us extra.
1) Inform us a bit extra concerning the American Basis for Suicide Prevention?
The American Basis for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a voluntary well being group that offers these affected by suicide a nationwide group empowered by analysis, schooling and advocacy to take motion towards this main explanation for demise.
Since its inception in 1987, AFSP has mobilized and related tens of 1000’s of people that have misplaced somebody to suicide; reached 1000’s of people who’re in danger for suicide and people who love and look after them; and attracted the participation of members of the scientific and medical communities, who conduct groundbreaking analysis on suicide and its prevention with AFSP’s assist.
AFSP additionally supplies group teaching programs on suicide prevention and has a public coverage arm that advocates for laws and insurance policies on the federal, state and native ranges that advance the purpose of stopping suicide.
2) What’s your individual affiliation with the organisation and what does that contain?
I’ve been a volunteer since 2021, beginning on the Brooklyn Out of the Darkness Committee in planning and executing on that fundraising occasion. Since 2023, I’ve additionally been the chair of the Paws for Prevention Committee taking the lead in creating and holding our spring fundraising canine stroll.
We’ve got held profitable Paws for Prevention occasions on the Coney Island Boardwalk in 2024 and 2025 and are starting the planning levels of our 2026 occasions.
3) How vital is male psychological well being as a well being concern within the US and the way can packages like MAN v FAT assist assist this?
The unhappy truth is that males account for the overwhelming majority of suicides annually. After we speak concerning the prevalence of suicide in any group its vital to acknowledge contributing components to their greater suicide fee and protecting components that may be current to assist forestall a person from making an attempt suicide.
The contributors to males having greater charges embrace males being extra more likely to be in a single relationship standing, greater predisposition to substance use and gender norms that promote stoicism, toughness and self-reliance that discourage males from searching for assist. MAN v FAT helps males with reference to 2 protecting components: strengthening connections to household and friends and participation in significant actions.
In my time in MAN v FAT, I’ve constructed connections to these right here in this system with me at Sundown Park and see others constructing these connections with one another. I’ve personally seen how the supportive ambiance of our membership has inspired our members to be open with one another in our bodily and psychological struggles in weight reduction and weight-reduction plan.
These connections are vital in suicide prevention as a result of if we will encourage males to be open once they’re struggling on this space they are often extra open once they’re fighting psychological well being. This enables them to acknowledge on their very own once they may need assistance and permits these of us round to identify when somebody may want extra assist.
In my early expertise, I’ve discovered the MAN v FAT to be a supportive group of men on the identical journey to shed pounds and enhance health. Everybody encourages one another on and off the sphere to be higher than the week earlier than, whether or not it’s commiserating setbacks, sharing ideas for getting higher on the sphere or sharing what works of their weight loss program and train routine.
The aggressive nature of this system and the (albeit gentle within the scheme of issues) monetary funding inspire me to take my weight loss program extra significantly as I don’t need to let the workforce down on the scales or really feel like I’m losing cash by not attempting to shed pounds to win on the scales and obtain my targets.
5) How a lot has getting again into bodily exercise and dropping pounds supported your individual wellbeing to this point?
Entering into taking part in within the MAN v FAT indoor soccer league has supported my very own wellbeing by giving me a construction and motivation to enhance and persist with my weight loss program and to start exercising extra even on the opposite six days within the week we don’t meet.
6) What would you say to some other guys regionally pondering of becoming a member of?
I might encourage them to offer it a attempt. It’s a fantastic, supportive program and also you don’t want any prior soccer expertise to get began as the principles are easy and the groups will assist you as you decide it up alongside the best way.
Wish to be a part of Scott at Sundown Park?
You’ll find out extra about MAN v FAT Soccer on our web site. And, if you happen to’d prefer to know extra about AFSP, please check out their personal web site too.