Man who lost dad and sister 'a different person' thanks to Cambridgeshire fishing group
Denver battled depression before trying out the sport
A Cambridgeshire man who battled depression after losing his dad and sister says fishing has allowed him to lead a new life.
Denver has recently joined the Fishing Buddies, which allows people who are feeling stressed or lonely to take time out of their day, meet one another and talk about their mental health.
He lost his dad and sister - who had cancer - within six months of each other and found it difficult to get outside having struggled to deal with their deaths.
"I went on the Cambridge charity site and read about it (Fishing Buddies), and when I discovered it was about helping people like myself, I thought it was a no-brainer; I've got to come and do it," Denver said.
"It's about mixing with other people who've been through the same thing as yourself; you always think you're worse off but there's always someone that's had it (mental health issues) harder than you."
Fishing has done 'world of good'
Denver started fishing with his dad at five-years-old before going onto teach his father new angling skills before he died.
After the loss of his dad and sister, Denver was given medication for depression which he took roughly the same time he took up fishing again.
"I just couldn't face anyone or do anything, I didn't want to meet people or go out; to make that first move it was an effort," he said.
"Especially with men, when you're struggling with MH, you think 'I'll be alright', plod on and try to put it to one side.
"Since I've been coming the last four, five months it's definitely helped my mental health; I feel happier, more relaxed, less stressed, I hid indoors but fishing's really done me the world of good."
Fishing Buddies - set up by the Cambridge United Foundation, Cambridge Charity Fundraisers and United's head groundsman Ian Darler - aims to give people a chance to talk about concerns they may have.
It also looks to break down barriers to better wellbeing and using fishing as a tool to improve mental health and creating lasting change.
The event runs four times a year, led by Ian who's recently raised more than £7,500 for charity after fishing for at least nine-and-a-half hours.
Denver believes his life has turned around thanks to two key reasons.
"With a combination of the medication I was put on and fishing, I'm a different person to who I was six months ago," he added.
"Even my wife and friends have said they can see the change in me, I'm getting more like my old self."