Way back in early 2020 I'd started to raise money for Mind, climbing Snowdon overnight with a view of reaching the summit in time for sunrise. In the 18 months leading up to that I was on the road to recovery following a breakdown that nearly cost me my life. But through medication (aka the brain biscuits), CBT and the support of friends, family and my partner I was on the way to finding some kind of normality.

The challenge seemed like the perfect metaphor for the journey I''d been on, overcoming difficulty in dark times and coming into the light.

Two months out from the climb COVID hit, putting the whole thing on hold. At first, it was just for six months, then a year but finally, two years later, it's happening, on a different mountain in winter.

Like many, COVID created some real challenges for my mental health.  It narrowed my world, made me feel isolated and the monotony pushed me towards burnout. And whilst there were bad periods and the skills I'd learned in therapy were put to the test, I felt like I was able to tackle my feelings. If there's one thing that has got me through this it’s the ability to talk openly about my feelings with friends, colleagues and my girlfriend.

So as the world comes out of this enforced winter of the last two years, I'll be tackling it head on by climbing Ben Nevis in March in aid of Mind. 

To be honest, the charity doesn't matter, what does is that we all learn to talk about how we feel more. If I'd been able to do that earlier in life I might not have spent such.a large part of life on struggle street. Find a way of doing it and a group of people you can do it with. That advice alone is worth a couple of quid in the donation box. Trust me

PS. Not a pity party, I’m OK hun xoxo