AN OVERWHELMING amount of support was given to a charity boxing match in memory of a late Buckley man.

Richard Luke died aged 38 due to the physical strains incurred by mental health problems.

In her heartache for “the most amazing man,” Mr Luke’s fiancee Sarah Sadler, 39, decided to host “one last round” for the avid boxer who unfortunately died before fulfilling his last wish.

Miss Sadler of Buckley said: “He was my most amazing man. He was a beautiful gentleman, and absolutely adored by everyone. He loved playing guitar, and he absolutely loved boxing, it was his world. Before he passed away he said he wanted to do ‘one last fight’ and was then training for a charity boxing match.”

His fiancee, who is a professional photographer, took his dying wish and was prepared to fulfill it for him after he died. With the support of the Buckley boxing community, family and friends, a charity boxing match was “an incredible sell-out” on Sunday, May 27, at The Tivoli under the name ‘Rich’s One Last Round.’

As well as paying tribute to Mr Luke’s memory, the event was aimed at raising awareness about men’s mental health, which Mr Luke suffered for many years during his career in the high-demanding pharmaceutical sales industry.

Miss Sadler, who has now become an advocate for men’s mental health and has featured on Merseyside radio shows discussing the topic, believes the event was only a starting-point for the worthy cause.

She said: “Mental health is more common than you think. It’s the biggest killer of men under 45, and my beautiful man is now within this statistic. Every two hours in the UK, a man dies from mental health related issues.

“A change is so desperately needed. There is a lot of support out there, but I don’t think it’s the right kind of support for men - or why would it still be the biggest killer for men under the age of 45?”

Miss Sadler is now calling for a reform in the way men’s mental health is regarded, and is eager to see new services and support offered to those suffering.

She said: “Men don’t want to do crafts and yoga at a local support centre. Even the language used needs to be changed. Saying things like “we want to give you the tools to deal with stress” is detrimental to a guy’s confidence. He has the tools, he has not always felt this way.

“Instead he should just be offered raw, real, support... a network and community built over reminding the guy who he is, that it is ok to not be ok, and that no matter what his journey is he will have someone by his side.”

The charity boxing match was a knock-out, with dozens of supporters attending The Tivoli to mark the momentous occasion.

Andrew Knox, of Buckley, delivered a heartfelt speech to stunned crowds before the boxing commenced, sharing his own troubles with mental health and how he overcame his battles.

He said on the evening: “We’re all here for one reason, and one reason only, and that’s to get people to start talking about mental health.

“I had a complete break-down, I went into work, and burst into tears in front of my manager. I’m a steward at Airbus, I’m supposed to be strong and tough and look after the members, and I had my weak points.

“But from then on, I moved on, and I’ve supported so many of our members with mental health issues.”

Mr Knox also has a charity pop-up shop, Knoxbooshplaylist, dedicated to helping people battle mental health problems through the power of music.

Miss Sadler said: “The night was incredible. I absolutely did not expect that level of support. Everyone was saying it felt like an event that was put on by someone with experience, not a first event, so that shows the level of support and help that was given.

“So far we have raised £3,000 for Mind - I am so happy.”

Rich’s One Last Round wasn’t the last peg for Sarah. She is starting a new project which includes taking a series of images of men with their mental health story, and hopes to make this discussion a normal conversation to have

“Be a Red Shoe King campaign is creating calendar, or if we have enough guys, a small book. Let’s make this conversation so loud it becomes a roar.”