A Leeds doughnut maker is on a mission to fight for mental health issues after losing his dad and friend within a short space of time.
Matt Madeley was originally a painter by trade, working alongside his dad. As Covid-19 prevailed across the country, his beloved dad suffered a long battle with the virus before he sadly died in January 2021 age 50.
Unable to work without his sidekick, Matt said "he couldn't go on without him" at work and decided to try something new. He and partner Molly Brywater love baking together and lockdown honed their passion.
Read more: Girlfriend's heartbreaking tribute to 'amazing' dad-of-four who took his own life
The pair took the plunge and opened their own artisan bakery called The Doughnut Company in December. Four months on, the business "continues to grow as the doughnuts are not like anywhere else - they are bespoke", Matt said.
After grieving his dad and putting his energy into the new business, and happily seeing it grow day by day, Matt then got the shocking news that one of his friends died from suicide. Matt's sister Amy Madeley's "happy and positive" partner, and Dewsbury dad Wayne Allert tragically took his own life at age 38.
His partner Amy Madeley said the dad-of-four was badly riddled with depression but she did not see the signs. She said: "Wayne was so loved by so many. He was on the outside a positive, happy person who appeared to be fighting no demons.
"Wayne was so badly riddled with depression and I didn’t see the signs. I told him that he was my world and I would help him through anything and he just couldn’t ask for help."
The pair "lived in each other's pockets", and he became close with her brother Matt too. Matt said he always admired their closed bond and how Wayne raised thousands of pounds for various charities throughout his life.
Before he died, Matt said his late friend told him he wished he had more support for his mental health. Now, the bakery is on a mission to push on his legacy and help as many people suffering with mental health as possible.
Matt said: "Wayne did tons for charity cycling from mountain climbing, bike riding, and we are trying our absolute hardest to get this out there to get awareness on what is starting to become a huge issue. I have also suffered with my mental health after I lost my father."
With help from girlfriend Molly and her sister Ellie, the three decided to create a colourful donut box for £10 per person and give the proceeds to Leeds mental health charity MINT (Men In Need Together). They deliver the donuts to areas in and around Leeds, including Wakefield, and orders can be collected, ordered via the app, or delivered for a cost of £2.
"We have had so many people interested - this isn't about us showing the products it's about raising awareness. We have been working from 6am until the evening to get people's deliveries out because it's about helping people."
The donuts in the charitable box are all green, and one even has the symbolic green ribbon - which represents international mental health awareness. The doughnuts include:
- A chocolate dipped doughnut with Oreo, chocolate buttercream, and a Quality street green triangle
- A vanilla covered ring doughnut with a mental health icing bow finished with green icing drizzle
- A green vanilla icing covered ring doughnut with sugar love heart pieces
- A milk chocolate icing covered doughnut half covered in crushed Mint Aero pieces with a vanilla buttercream swirl, topped with mint Aero balls and finished in milk chocolate drizzle
Matt added: "We came up with the box idea because every week MINT host a group session in Morley where people come together who are struggling. We shared it online and people began to tell us that they too had suffered bad mental health and needed someone to talk to.
"MINT are running a great project right now and we would appreciate anyone who can get behind us with this. The boxes are really special to us, and created to raise awareness."
The fundraiser is open until the end of April, and those who wish to purchase a box can do so here.
