*Update* 

Who am I and what am I doing?

Mental health and Kilimanjaro, these two things are seemingly unrelated but they are both synonymous with challenge. Overcoming something you thought you couldn’t. Undertaking a task that seems beyond you. Pushing your limits and coming out the other side wiser, stronger and with a better understanding.

My name is Ellie and on September the 2nd 2019 I will be flying out with a group from Bangor University to climb Kilimanjaro, the biggest mountain in Africa in aid of Mind, a mental health charity. I’m hoping to raise £2990 (or more) for Mind to continue their work in providing services and facilities to help better combat mental illness.

Tell me more.

Mental illness is indiscriminate, it doesn’t care who you are, where you come from, your age, your gender, about your predisposition or your privilege’s. The experience is unique to the individual, you fight your own battle and unfortunately not everybody wins. Mental illness can manifest in a wide variety of states and often remains invisible. Speaking from my own experience it is a silent, scary, confusing, frustrating, upsetting and painful time, to name a few.

Unfortunately, mental illness is often glamorised. Made to be a characteristic for the mysterious and endearing, not only is this false but it’s a trivial and sometimes an insulting suggestion, sometimes it’s just ignorance. To feel is to be human and sometimes these negative feelings manifest into a chronic and long-term experience, occasionally without being noticed. But it doesn’t have to define us.

The aim.

I am not here to provide you with symptoms or solutions. I am here because we all know someone suffering with mental illness, perhaps it’s a friend, a family member, a co-worker or a neighbour. It is reality; and I want to be of service and assist in providing each individual with the opportunity to help themselves, and others, in fighting their battle, climbing their mountain.

If all I do is raise awareness and encourage a few conversations to start, I’ll be satisfied. If I can do all that plus reach my fundraising goal and climb the 5895m to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, well, I’ll be pretty bloody ecstatic.

What next?

I hope you’ll take a moment to contribute in some way to this cause. Whether by liking, sharing or tagging on this post. By donating pounds or pennies or providing your services to help raise more money. Even if all you do is message a friend or a neighbour or a family member to let them know that you’re here and you mean it. Or even if you just educate yourself to better understand what someone is going through so that when the time comes, as it sure will, you can be there. That’s all I’m asking.

So, for me and everyone you know. Like. Share. Donate. But most of all: Listen. 

Thank you. Ellie.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.