Taking on a 550-mile bike ride was every bit as difficult as Phil Barton imagined it would be. Aching muscles and fatigue were overwhelming at times – but he says remembering the support he’s received helped him complete the epic challenge in aid of us.
Phil, who’s a firefighter with London Fire Brigade, ended up raising over £3,500 – but it was the awareness he’s raised along the way which has meant the most to him.
Having experienced mental health challenges for as long as he can remember, Phil reached out to us shortly after joining the fire service eight years ago – and he says the telephone counselling he’s received, as well as a stay at Harcombe House with his family, has helped him move forward and inspire others along the way.
“I love my job. I’d always wanted to do it, but I was actually 33 when I joined,” he says.
“I have a long running struggle with my mental health, which for me involves stress, anxiety and depression, with the highs and lows often exaggerated by the ongoing battles in my head.
“It goes back as far as I can remember, and sometimes those lows can come out of nowhere. I’ll find myself wanting to withdraw from social situations, or feeling frustrated at things that wouldn’t normally frustrate me.
“After reaching an all-time low in 2016, feeling overwhelmed and at rock bottom both mentally and emotionally, I reached out for professional help, and I can honestly say that it was the best thing I ever did.”
Shortly after, Phil joined London Fire Brigade – and having worked through a lot of his mental health challenges, he immediately looked at support that was available to him and his colleagues, should he need it.
“I started to learn about Fire Fighters Charity and the mental health support they offer,” he says. “There can be a lot of stigma around asking for help, particularly for men I’ve found, and making the first step can feel hard. But I’d recommend anyone do it.
“I did have a low point not too long after joining, not triggered by anything in particular, and I reached out to see if Fire Fighters Charity could help me.”
Phil chose to reach out via our online form, as he felt more comfortable expressing how he’d been feeling that way, rather than an immediate phone call. Our team then got in touch from there.
“I was offered a few options for support, and I opted for telephone counselling, which I found really helpful,” he adds. “I’ve had it once more since, and my family and I also visited Harcombe House in 2025, which was very relaxing. It was there that we came up with the idea for the fundraiser.
“Having the support of professionals along the way (alongside my caring and understanding wife) have been invaluable in my journey – one which I know will be ongoing, but I feel a bit better equipped to deal with knowing I have the support there when needed.”
Phil has begun to share his story more widely ever since, particularly with colleagues.
“It’s easy to forget the mental impact of being a firefighter, you just deal with it as it comes, but when that’s on top of your daily life it can become a lot,” Phil says.
“There have been a couple of shouts that have resonated more with me, often families, and I can see it’s upset me. I have learnt now to address that and either remove myself to deal with it afterwards, or talk about it with colleagues or my wife.
“I’ve become more open at work, and then you hear from other people about how they’ve struggled with their mental health – and you’ll often never have expected it. It opens up really good wider conversations.”
Phil went on to plan his incredible 550-mile bike ride to not only raise funds, but wider awareness of our support. He visited each of our centres – Jubilee House in Cumbria, Harcombe House in Devon and Marine Court in West Sussex – along the way.
“My biggest help with my mental health is exercise and being outside,” Phil explains. “My wife and I have an understanding that I may head out for a bike ride if I’m finding things more difficult, and that alone can sometimes turn it around for me.
“I have two children, my eldest is five now, but we’ve both said when they get a bit older we’ll be open about some of our experiences, to have that open communication with them as they grow up too.
“If sharing my story resonates with one person out there, then it’s worth sharing.”
If you feel you’d benefit from our health and wellbeing support, you can call our Support Line on 0800 389 8820, make an enquiry online or click below: