Express & Star

Mental health podcast run by boxing club marks milestone event

Boxers from the Black Country are celebrating one year since they set up a unique podcast aimed at helping men and boys with mental health issues.

Published
Kevin Dillon and Lee Cadman of Lions Boxing and Black Country Blokes podcast

The Black Country Blokes podcast is broadcast live every Tuesday evening and has featured special guests including mental health experts and professional boxers.

It is run by head boxing coach at Lions Boxing Club in Brierley Hill Kevin Dillon, and fellow boxers Aaren Deu, Lee Cadman and Craig Pinches.

When they first set up the podcast, they recorded it on a phone – but now they have their own studio and webcam for the weekly broadcast.

Kevin, age 36, lives in Kingswinford with his wife and five-year-old daughter.

He said: "On September 30 we will have been going for one year. And we just want to raise awareness of this.

"Mental health issues affect us all. And just by me telling my stories, and others, on the podcast, it's led to more and more people talking about it.

Change

"They say men don't talk. Well I say they do, but no-one is listening. So we're here for that. Anything we can do to help young people the better.

"We've had athletes, ex-squaddies, all sorts of people come on.

"It doesn't matter who you are or where you're from or what you're doing, you can be affected by mental health.

"We need more people to start talking, and hopefully we will see a change."

Kevin suffered from viral meningitis when he was just three, leading to partial blindness which meant he was unable to box.

"I went off the rails a bit," he added. "But I want to help people know that people around do care. We need to take the time to listen to mens' problems. It's worth it."

Visit facebook.com/theblackcountryblokes for more.

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