It鈥檚 generally accepted men aren鈥檛 very comfortable talking about certain health issues, particularly mental health.

Rick Ruppenthal of Saltair wants to help change all that, calling upon his abundant experiences as a paramedic, life coach and educator by hosting a 12-hour talk-a-thon over Facebook Live Friday, June 18 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific Time. He鈥檚 inviting anyone who wants to take part with something to say or just to listen during the informal session.

鈥淭here鈥檚 going to be a lot of different things going on,鈥� Ruppenthal said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 necessarily have an agenda. I certainly have a lot of material.鈥�

The timing of the session all seems appropriate to him with June 18 just before Father鈥檚 Day being Wear Blue Day and Ruppenthal鈥檚 65th birthday June 28 on the horizon.

Wear Blue Day is a part of the year-round Wear Blue campaign created by the Men鈥檚 Health Network to raise awareness about the importance of male health and inspire men to take steps that will lead to longer and healthier lives while giving women an opportunity to encourage them to do so.

鈥淚 wanted to do something different this year as I have been a fundraiser and advocate for men鈥檚 health for a number of years,鈥� Ruppenthal indicated. 鈥淚 fundraise a lot for Movember. I had prostate cancer.鈥�

That was five years ago and he鈥檚 been doing well since then.

鈥淓verything鈥檚 looking good,鈥� Ruppenthal explained. 鈥淚 went through some radical surgeries.鈥�

The ramifications of mental health have particularly piqued his interest through his 30 years as a paramedic.

鈥淢ental health is so rampant,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 spent most of my time in Vancouver. I fell in love with the work and the people there and what they were going through wasn鈥檛 their fault.鈥�

A talk-a-thon seemed like a good idea to further bring the topic into the open and for him to satisfy another of his longtime desires.

鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to be a radio talk show guy,鈥� he laughed.

Ruppenthal鈥檚 campaign will be in support of three charities: Canadian Mental Health Association (Cowichan Valley branch); Wounded Warriors Canada and the Honour House Society. The Honour House wellness centre is in New Westminster, with a ranch in Ashcroft.

On Friday, Ruppenthal will post a link to Canada Helps which is taking the donations. All the funds raised will be distributed any way individuals wish and the goal for the campaign that ends on Ruppenthal鈥檚 birthday is $6,500.

The live broadcast will be on the Unbroken Hero Project Facebook page by clicking on Wear Blue Day under Events. People can drop in on the conversation at any time and Ruppenthal isn鈥檛 expecting anyone to watch for the full 12 hours.

鈥淚鈥檓 going to be open and honest and invite people to join the conversations,鈥� he said.

鈥淵ou will be supporting a very worthwhile cause that will help many men and women and support our Emergency First Responders in this province and across our great country,鈥� Ruppenthal concluded. 鈥淟et鈥檚 make this happen together.鈥�