Who is Kind Kong

I’m Lee Beecroft, creator of Kind Kong. An early 40’s mental health sufferer and survivor since my late teens, early 20’s. 

My first recollection of mental health was with the loss of my cousin Daniel. Six weeks older than me but we were like twins. More Arnie and Danny DeVito but we bounced off each other.

The loss, grief and depression lead me to spiral. Becoming a recluse and only leaving my room to go through the motions of life etc. Food became my crutch, and I comfort ate and ballooned in weight making my mental health worse. 

I managed to get through this with support and lost much of my extra weight. Began to find some semblance of life, but in times of stress or emotional turmoil, comfort eating took over. 

I had a 10 year marriage which ended, also inability to switch off from work, losing myself and not knowing what i enjoyed, overthinking and analysing lead to a suspected heart attack.

Straight out of my ended marriage we went into Covid lockdown, even thou lucky to be with close family, i was broken, lost and at times in a very dark place, were sleep was good as it shut off the inner demons and food filled me with comfort. So once again i ballooned. 

Thankfully, a social group on facebook meant i could talk and vent, and release. Alongside family and friends. So over time I gradually started to climb upwards. Not to say bouts of stress, anxiety and depression hasn’t reared its head. 

I have spent the last 3 years following positive role models on social media, using sleep meditations, reiki, talking, reading, being creative with drawing, woodworking and more, trying to find what my likes were again.

But my biggest turning point was sitting alone on New Years Eve 2022. Realising i was gonna be turning 40, potentially half way through my life, and have of my forty years been struggling with mental health. 2023 needed to be my year of change. While its had its ups and downs, with support i have challenged myself, grown, found my likes which include rugby, cars, motorbikes, EMO music and also building a F*ck it attitude (its a work in progress) as i overthink and over-care. 

With this mindset and knowing how difficult it is for other mental health battlers, its time for a voice to say ‘Not being ok, is ok’ and that somedays will be hard but please ‘Breathe, Believe and Battle On’ as there is always someone willing to be an listening ear, a shoulder to cry on or just to sit with in silence. 

So Kind Kong, is my way of promoting kindness to all, as we never know the hidden struggle, and if one of my designs helps someone to open up, to know they are not alone then its done its job.

Thank you for reading.

Always Remember ‘BE KIND’