“I classed him as more like a brother as we did everything together and after he died I just didn’t know what to do next.”
Kieran Freeman, 25, of Bury St Edmunds, is gearing up to compete in his first bodybuilding show in August, more than eight years after losing his best friend, Jake Paxton, in a collision in Rougham aged 18.
Following Jake’s death, Kieran was massively impacted and he fell into a bad depression.
However, after seeing a post online, Kieran started going to the gym and began a new journey where he began to feel himself heal.
He hasn’t looked back since.
“Jake and I did basically everything together,” Kieran said.
“We played football and computer games together, we went to the same school and college, and after he died, I didn’t have anyone I was as close with.
“I’d lost my right-hand man and it really affected me. I thought – what was the point in carrying on?”
Kieran started working out at Sports Direct Fitness on the Moreton Hall estate and would cycle there every day after he finished college.
He found it not only benefited him physically but it was also mentally incredibly important, which helped him through a tough part of his life.
“The gym saved my life. It made such a difference and helped all my troubles disappear,” Kieran said.
“I could go in there and fight the demons away. I felt safe and it was my way of healing.”
Kieran, who now works out at Iron Island, in Western Way, has fallen in love with bodybuilding in the last few years.
He is set to make his competitive debut at The OCB Great Britain Natural competition on August 22 at The Shaw Theatre in London.
Kieran has thanked his family and his fiancée, Lauren, for all of their support, and he is feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement ahead of the competition.
He wants to spread the message that there is always light at the end of the tunnel for those struggling with depression.
“I hope my story can help others, even if it is just one person,” he said.
