Verity Bignell-Rigby

Verity is taking on the 20-hour challenge to support youth mental health and raise awareness about the importance of prevention.

Why am I doing this?

In November 2024 I became a Mum to our beautiful little boy Ziggy. You don't realise how much you can love something until you become a Mum. Equally, people try to prepare you for the rollercoaster of emotions that you feel when you're in the thick of being a new Mum.

I've always had a short fuse/ been a lil hot headed but since becoming a Mum I have been the most reactive and emotionally dysregulated that I've ever been. Paired with having ADHD my base level has become over-stimulated-on-edge-crazy-gal.

Parenthood is hard on the individual but hard on the relationship too. Luckily, I have a very patient, loving and involved wife.

My usual go to of some high intensity exercise to get some endorphins isn't cutting it at the moment, because to be honest, I just can't be bothered. We're in the slower paced exercise era with a 20 minute run MAYBE once a week.

Anyway, why am I doing this? Because not being able to talk for 20 hours, the only way to be able to get words out being on paper in a journal is probably going to do me a world of good (it won't feel like it at the time). In the process, we're going to be raising money for mental health maintenance courses, school screenings and much more for young people.

Sitting in silence for 20 hours in a 2mX2m space is confronting, but what's more confronting is that suicide remains the leading cause of death for young people under 30.

Any assistance in reaching the fundraising goal of $1000 is so appreciated.