News Beat
Micky Hazard and Graham Roberts unveil mental health benches
Two suicide prevention benches have now been installed in York and Harrogate.
The lifesaving park benches are the work of former Tottenham Hotspur footballer Micky Hazard and his sister Michelle.
The pair founded the Charity ‘Legend on the bench’, after Michelle’s son Jay sadly took his own life in 2019, aged 23.
Their mission is to install as many benches as possible in parks and open spaces around the UK.
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Every bench displays quick access to information at any time of the day or night for anyone experiencing mental health problems.
They feature a QR code that can be easily scanned with a smartphone. This code will direct people to a comprehensive list of professional groups, who can provide vital support.
This year the Charity teamed up with Definition Body Coaching in Nether Poppleton, a personal training studio that opened back in 2014.
With the support of their clients, the studio raised £4,000 to fund the two new benches, which are the first to be installed in North Yorkshire.
On Thursday (Dec 4), Tottenham legends Micky Hazard and former European winning Captain Graham Roberts unveiled the benches to the public. One is in Valley Gardens in Harrogate and the other at Chesney Park in Acomb, York.
With the subject so close to Micky’s heart, he added “Someone is always listening, that is the message we want to send out”
Definition Body Coaching founder Justin Shepherd said: “We like to do a fundraiser each year supporting different organisations, last year we raised money to buy rehabilitation equipment for St Leonards hospice in York.
“It’s something the whole studio gets behind. We hope these benches will help to save lives and help people who need it.
“Our message is that they matter. This also raises further awareness of mental health which is so vital for all of us. It would be great to see even more benches installed in North Yorkshire across 2026 and beyond.”
