Cycling event aims for £50,000 after Birmingham man’s death

A charity is aiming to raise £50,000 through a cycling event following the death of a construction worker.

Christy Lambe, 30, of Birmingham, struggled with her mental health for most of her adult life and died on July 9, 2022, her family said.

Cycle for Christy will see 26 riders ride from Birmingham to Clonaslee in the Republic of Ireland, the home village of the family where he is buried.

The event, hosted by the Christy Lambe Foundation, will begin on July 6 and end on the anniversary of her death.

Michael Lambe, 40, said his brother, the youngest of four siblings, was funny and compassionate.

He added: “After he died I learned a lot about all the people he quietly helped who had their own mental health challenges, anxiety issues.

“It was very emotional to hear how it helped these guys.”

Mr Lambe is managing director of the family business, M. Lambe Construction in Birmingham, who came up with the idea to set up the charity.

Setting up the charity meant Christy Lambe’s “compassion and care for others could continue to help people for years to come”, his brother said.

The foundation provides support and money, in partnership with organizations such as charities Standing Tall and Tabor Living and construction industry charities Lighthouse Club.

Asked what he thought were the specific struggles in construction that might be difficult for people, Mr Lambe said: “I think (it’s) the old problem of men talking about their problems which is at the heart of it.

“Obviously, historically, construction is a very male-dominated industry.”

The brother added that he thought “you’re also seeing higher levels of addiction to drink and drugs.”

He stated: “If you have substance abuse related to not having an outlet to share when you’re struggling with your mental health, I think it really adds up to a toxic combination.”

At the company, which brought on a wellbeing manager in 2018, people “from top to bottom … jumped in to support the family to take the pressure off of running the business and gave us time to grieve”, he added.

A GoFundMe appeal for money for the cycling event will start on Monday.

Mr Lambe said the participants were “deep in training”, adding: “It’s helped a lot of us prepare and although none of us have done this distance before I think it will (be) very entertaining”.