Two former car designers who want to kick out the stigma attached to talking about mental health and raise money to help those in need are to take part in this year’s Monte Carlo Classique Rally.
Director of the National Transport Design Centre Craig Callum and car designer-turned-reverend Adam Gompertz are joining the Blue Diamond Riley Services team, driving a 1949 MG TC from on the Glasgow to Monaco route. They hope to raise funds for OCD Action on the event, which runs from January 30 to February 3.
Rather than simply being tidy, or something we might jokingly say we all have, OCD is characterised by disturbing intrusive thoughts (obsessions) producing anxiety which are alleviated only by repetitive actions (compulsions). It can leave sufferers isolated, trapped in an endless cycle of checking and double checking, of being a prisoner to the obsessions and resulting compulsions. Adam himself has battled OCD at various times in his life.
“OCD gets bandied around too much. It’s not an insult, it’s a real, life-altering condition,” he said. “I feel, as men specifically, we don’t talk about our problems, including that of our own mental health. Being a Reverend, I try and help as many people as possible, but opening it up to people outside of my parish and including my second passion – cars – is something I’m really trying to do in 2019 and beyond.”
Follow the progress Craig and the Reverend make as head for Monaco on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter – search for #montyonthemonte. Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/adam-gompertz.
