Friends from Beckingham and Balderton taking on 16 hour padel marathon at That Padel Club, on Whittle Close, Newark

Two players of a fashionable new sport are hoping that their upcoming fundraiser will get men talking and improve mental health.

Steven Fraser (known as Fraser), of Beckingham, and friend Harry Beedham, of Balderton, are set to take on a 16 hour padel marathon later this month to help raise money for men’s mental health charities.

After going through their own mental health struggles and witnessing their friends facing their own battles — especially following Fraser’s experiences serving with the Royal Marines in Afghanistan as part of 45 Commando attached to 29 Commando — they were inspired to do something to help their fellow men.

“Men don’t talk about their problems, so we thought we could do something for men’s mental health,” Fraser said.

Fraser and Harry will be playing their marathon padel sessions — 16 games from 6am until 10pm — at That Padel Club, on Whittle Close, Newark, and anyone wishing to sponsor them can do so by visiting their online fundraising page.

Padel is described by the Lawn Tennis Association as “one of the fastest growing sports in Britain” and is a racquet sport, usually played in doubles in an enclosed court around one third the size of a regular tennis court, with players bouncing the ball off the walls.

It is considered to be suitable for all ages and abilities.

As big padel enthusiasts, the pair have been training daily in preparation for their challenge, although Fraser has had to take it easy after sustaining a calf injury.

“It’s not too bad now though and we need to step up the training,” he added, “We’ve been managing three to five hour sessions at a time, but I think by 4pm on the day we’ll definitely be feeling it, but it’s just one of those things we’ll have to get past.”