A Hertfordshire League cricket club is doing its bit to raise awareness of mental health issues.
Abbots Langley Cricket Club is supporting Opening Up Cricket by featuring the organisation’s logo on its shirts and has also hosted a workshop.
Opening Up Cricket was formed in 2014 following the death of Sefton Park CC wicketkeeper Alex Miller and a desire to promote positive mental health within the sport.
The club’s cricket secretary Mark Bishop, whose son Jack has been instrumental in the club promoting Opening Up, said: “We decided to support this organisation who are in the process of applying for full charity status because of the difficult times everyone has experienced during lockdown.
Members of the Gallows Hill Lane club
“Mental health amongst cricketers almost certainly would have deteriorated during this period and we decided as a club to bring this serious issue to the attention of our members and our opponents.”
In addition to Abbots Langley’s players wearing shirts with the Opening Up logo, the Gallows Hill Lane club hosted a workshop where positive actions to deal with mental health issues were identified and shared.
The club's Second XI team are also helping to spread the positive message
Mark added: “We hope that this gesture encourages any cricketer in the local area who may be suffering mental health issues to speak up about them and seek the help they need.”
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