Former Mayor approaching final phase of 30 for 30 bipolar challenge

FORMER Mayor of Warrington, Geoff Settle, has less than ten days left to go on his fund-raising bipolar 30 for 30 challenges.

It will finish on the 30th of March Vicent van Gogh’s birthday who it is thought like the former mayor also suffered from bipolar. Geoff is once more raising money for the Warrington BipolarUK Support Group that he set up in 2016.
He said: “It’s been a real pleasure, and like bipolar, there had been the good and not so good occasions. You can donate from £1 upwards and read my blogs on Facilitator Tips & Experiences | givestar . The money goes towards paying for things like room hire at the Gateway and other bipolar services.
Geoff added, “There are no direct bipolar focused facilities available where you can go and talk about your illness with like-minded people. There are, of course, Hollins Park Hospital and Wakefield House, when you are or leading up to a serious episode. This is where we step in and provide what Charlotte Nichols MP describes as a safe place during her visit. Sarah Hall MP is also a supporter of our work and often speaks up for those on the spectrum in the House of Commons.”
Geoff has been facilitating now every 1st Tuesday of the month for just over nine-and-a-half years, or 228 hours of volunteering. Nine and a half years is the time it takes on average for someone to be diagnosed as suffering from the chronic bipolar illness.
He said, “There is no cure for bipolar, it’s with you for life, but there are things you can do to help your condition, and at Warrington BipolarUK Support Group, we talk about them as a group and share advice, hopefully putting a smile back on your face.
“When new members arrive and tell their story, they usually end up in tears. The support group are often the first group of bipolar people they have ever spoken to about their condition.
“The brain is a very complex place, and it takes clinical psychologists time to work out what’s the right medication for an individual. There is therapy in town but again another queue. Resources as we all know are stretched and as more people live longer the services are stretched even more.”
Geoff recommends that you watch this wonderful bipolar two-minute film that is up in the Smiley Charity Award Final; you will get a taste of what bipolar can be like to sufferers. Maybe it’s bipolar? | Smiley Charity Film Awards
He said, “Please vote after you have watched it. I think that the young lady featured is Rosie Viva, who has had an incredibly difficult life with the illness, but she has equally had a very successful life in fashion. She has written a great book, “Completely Normal and Totally Fine. The highs and lows and In-betweens of Living with Bipolar.”
Geoff added: ” The book has inspired me to get back to my art (Seasons Art Warrington) and my music (Warrington Male Voice Choir). A current song he is learning is “What would I do without my music?
“One positive aspect of bipolar is being creative and enjoying life when the mood is good. It’s not all doom and gloom.
“I took on this 30 for 30 challenge because I struggle with writing, spelling mistakes, poor grammar, etc. It has therefore been difficult and has raised the question of me being dyslexic. If so, I know I have passed it on to both children, one of whom was diagnosed as dyslexic 30 years ago after I’d taken the issue to the Educational Head at New Town House.