Two best friends have walked the length of the Valleys in memory of their "bubbly and hardworking" friend who died weeks after winning £25,000 in an online competition.
Carl Blakemore, from Tonyrefail, died on Monday, July 13, aged just 36, after battling with his mental health and feeling let down by the relevant services. Carl, who worked as a plumber by trade, has been remembered as a brilliant friend who would do anything for anyone.
24-hour walk for memorial bench
In his memory, friends Sam Croft and Liam Jones, took part in a 24-hour walk to raise money for a memorial bench for Carl. Sam and Liam said the bench would be located in Tonyrefail Park and will include the numbers of different mental health services. The pair hope that if people are struggling with their mental health they might sit on the bench and talk to someone instead of struggling alone.
Walking through day and night, Sam and Liam walked from the top of Valleys down to Llantrisant and Talbot Green, only stopping briefly on a couple of occasions, before finishing in Tonyrefail where lots of people came out to congratulate them.
Over £15,000 raised
Sam said: "Liam asked me if I fancied doing a 24-hour walk to raise money for a memorial bench for Carl. We absolutely smashed it. We found out how much a bench would be and we decided we wanted to raise at least half the money which was £600. Now we've raised over £15,000. It's for Carl but also for other people who suffer with mental health, especially men, because I believe men think they have to act like men and feel like they can't cry. It's devastating."
Sam continued: "The first 12 hours were brilliant, going through the night was good but when we started to hear the birds chirping that's when we started slacking. I was shattered afterwards but I stayed awake to get my sleeping pattern back to normal."
Remembering Carl
Sam, who said his best friend Carl was more like family to him, said the 36-year-old had followed in his father's footsteps to become a plumber but also had a special interest in space. He remembered him as being great with kids and said he'd struggle to find a bad word to say about him.
He said: "Carl was an awesome person, he would help anyone out. He was such a bubbly person, he was always nice around my kids, they would all call him Uncle Carl. He was really great with my kids, he'd buy them everything and look after them. He's a proper family man, he would help anyone out. He was a bubbly person who was so nice. I don't have a bad word to say about Carl, he was just a legend. I always thought he was a legend. I miss him terribly. He was just a really great guy who was so good to my kids too."
Tribute from Davies Contractors Ltd
Davies Contractors Ltd also paid tribute to Carl who had worked at the firm since it began. Following his sudden death, they wrote online: "It is with great sadness that we share that Davies Contractors Ltd has lost one of our own. This week, we said goodbye to our friend and colleague, Carl Blakemore, who had been with Davies Contractors Ltd since day one. Carl wasn't just an employee – he was part of our family. He was a hardworking, loyal, genuine lad who made a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him. His passing has deeply affected every single one of us at Davies. It is a reminder that life is precious and that behind every smile, there can be battles that others cannot see."
The company urged anyone struggling with their mental health to check in on their family and friends: "A simple conversation can make all the difference. Please look after one another. If you're struggling, speak to someone. If you think someone else may be struggling, take the time to ask how they are. Together, we can help break the stigma around men's mental health and remind people that they are never alone."
