Introduction

Hi, I’m Alfie Ruffell, born and bred in Portsmouth. My journey hasn’t been straightforward. After failing at school, I dabbled in various businesses until I found my calling with Rio-Vitalise, a wellness company specialising in CBD products. We're on a mission to build a community for all, educating, motivating, and inspiring healthy, balanced living. We challenge traditional healthcare solutions by offering holistic, natural alternatives through our platform, teachings, and organically farmed products.

The Inspiration Behind Rio-Vitalise

The idea for Rio-Vitalise didn’t come overnight. Before COVID-19 turned our world upside down, my dad was rushed to the hospital and given a 2% chance of survival. After months in the hospital, he was told he had six months to live with no surgical options available. Desperate for a solution, I immersed myself in researching his illness and alternative natural medicines. I developed a comprehensive health plan for him, including a strict diet, exercise, and a course of cannabis oils. Five years later, my dad is still with us, healthier and more spirited than ever.

Getting Into the CBD Business

While my previous business was at a standstill due to COVID, the farmer who supplied my dad’s oils approached me to sell his product. With nothing to lose, I took up the offer. Soon, I encountered numerous life-changing stories similar to my dad's. It was then that I partnered with a good friend to start a CBD business. I negotiated exclusivity with the farmer for the UK, and after six months of hard work, we built a brand, gained traction, and raised a significant amount of money for the farm.

The Mental Health Crisis

Portsmouth, my hometown, is facing a huge mental health crisis. We are now being recognised as one of the worst cities in the UK for young male suicide. It's tough out there for all of us at the minute with the current state of the world, from global warming to global wars, this constant fear being forced upon us by the media, the highly processed diets we are living on and all that fake dopamine hits that are being robbed from us from scrolling through social media. Being a condensed city on an island doesn't help matters when we have a city mentality in a village-like setting where everyone knows everyone, which in turn I think adds pressure to us all, especially men. We are living in a society where people judge you buy the clothes you wear, what you post on social media and whether or not you have seen Baby Reindeer. The easy access to purchases on credit, our overall lack of discipline, and excessive screen time have also weakened our society. The sense of entitlement has led to a lack of mental resilience

Our town has a huge drug culture, with many of us living for the weekend, and the occasional mid-weeker. it has become the norm to get a bag of sniff in after a couple of drinks, it's not normal to go and meet your pals without having to smoke a banger or go for a couple of games of pool and it leads to a wonky Wednesday. It's become normal, and a lot of us are being controlled by our addictions, environment and subconscious. We're not taking in to consideration what that is doing to our brain health, along with the other points mentioned above.  No wonder why we are all walking around with depression, its fucking horrible out there, and feels impossible to change!

The Rio-Way

We believe moderation and control are key to overcoming these challenges. That’s why we promote #TheRioWay, a cultural shift towards better brain health and overall wellness, whilst not completely cutting out the fun! Living a healthy balanced life both mentally and physically is the driving force behind #TheRioWay. We've partnered with a pioneering figure in the world of mental health who will support our community with expert knowledge and practical tips, and we can't wait to announce our partnership in the coming weeks!

My Personal Struggle

Recently, I experienced my own dark moment just the other day. Despite putting on a face of being positive and resilient, I bottled up my feelings, out of nowhere one thing pushed me over the edge and I had a bit of wobble. Opening up to my family lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. This experience reinforced my belief in the importance of genuine human connection and openness. Hence why we have launched our new community WhatsApp group.

Conclusion

Our society is at a breaking point. Despite being more connected than ever, there’s a huge sense of disconnect and a lack of community. #TheRioWay Community aims to change that. We want to educate on natural alternatives for mental and physical health, provide a platform for sharing struggles and victories, and uplift each other with guidance from the very best in the industry.

Join us in the #TheRioWay Community WhatsApp group and be part of a movement that truly cares about your well-being. Let’s make a difference together.

Link to join: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DQHPQJkevEO9JluQrVVTTU