In today’s episode I talk to Richard Bland. Richard is the founder of the charity Bear Force. Bear Force the charity was established in 2023. The charity's goal is to provide tools for helping young children’s mental health and assisting caregivers and schools. Bear Force and Bear Force Buddies aim to build positive mental health foundations from a very early age. He spent many years associated with the RAF Valley in Anglesey and did a lot of charity work with them, through his passion for aviation photography. Sadly by a twist of fate, Richard lost his son Drew to suicide, which turned his life around completely. At that time he had a teddy bear flying all over the world for charity. He was persuaded to write a children's book about his adventures, which was supported by the RAF and RAF Valley and it has sold thousands of copies. That took him on a different direction and he was introduced to Berni Hollywood, the entrepreneur and charity guru. Berni was embarking on a Transatlantic Boat race and wanted to take the teddy bear with him, which was the beginning of a successful collaboration. Today the charity has support from some of the most well known companies such as British Airways, Rolls Royce and the Red Arrows. AB Bear also began accompanying high profile people on their journeys, including H.R.H The Prince Of Wales. Richard talks about the tragic loss of his son, a deeply painful experience that profoundly impacted his life and his determination to transform his grief into a force for good, leading him to establish the charity Bear Force. Through Bear Force, Richard aims to provide support and resources for mental health, preventing similar tragedies from happening to others. His dedication to this cause is a testament to his love for his son and his commitment to making a difference. For more information on Richard Bland and Bear Force visit: https://bearforce.org.uk For more information on Mimi Novic visit: https://www.miminovic.co.uk