THE grieving friends and family of a Benfleet man who died are uniting to raise cash for a charity tackling the stigma surrounding men’s mental health. 

Ché Marsh, from Benfleet, passed away last year after taking his own life but friends admit they didn’t know the “extent of the difficulties” the 28-year-old was facing. 

Now, friends and family are teaming up to launch and sell a new hoodie in his memory to support men’s mental health charity ManUp. 

Friends - Jake and Che Friends - Brett Keeble, Che Marsh and Jake Caddy (Image: Jake Caddy) Hoodie - The back art of hoodie Hoodie - The back art of hoodie (Image: Jake Caddy)

The charity works to destigmatise and change opinions on men’s mental health – their name being a twist on a phrase commonly used to encourage men to “deal with it”.

Jake Caddy, owner of Southend’s Sanctum events company, became friends with Ché when they were both 17 and is leading the fundraiser. 

Jake said: “We started out as friends from school. I am 29 and for the last 12 years we were friends, and he was someone I could rely on.

“I moved to Devon, and we spoke a lot over the phone. He was in Benfleet and before he passed, he moved to Wickford.

Family - Mum Illona marsh, Che Marsh and Amira MarshFamily - Mum Illona marsh, Che Marsh and Amira Marsh (Image: Jake Caddy) Memory - Che Marsh Memory - Che Marsh (Image: Jake Caddy)

“I got a call from a friend that Ché had passed away on May 8. It was a massive shock to us and we did loads for him. We fundraised for his funeral and for his family and we had a club night for him as well.

“We are slowly taking orders for the hoodie now and we are donating to ManUp. We want to see what we can do to raise some awareness, and more is being raised, especially in recent years.

“It is important to us as we understand what it is like to lose someone from mental health struggles.”

Ché was found unresponsive in his car last May in Wickford, where he was living at the time. 

Mother and son - Illona and Che Marsh Mother and son - Illona and Che Marsh (Image: Jake Caddy) Brother and sister - Che and Amira Marsh Brother and sister - Che and Amira Marsh (Image: Jake Caddy)

Ché’s mum, Illona Marsh, 55, said: “It is amazing what Jake and his friends are doing. They are speaking not just for Ché but for everybody. My partner works in mental health and he does a Tuesday night group. We are pushing as much as we can as there are a lot of people suffering.

“Ché was a very all-or-nothing kind of guy. If he did the gym he did it to the maximum, if he was teetotal, he did it to the maximum. There was a pattern and he suffered a little with general life.

“Life is hard and he struggled with things but he never spoke to us until one day, when he did speak to us and we went to the doctors, where he was given antidepressants. 

“He was loved by all but many people said ‘if only he spoke’. It isn’t that simple much of the time for men.” 

To support and get a hoodie, contact sanctum at Facebook.com/sanctumthreads

When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org for more.