This page is the THIRD crowdfunding page for my Clipper Campaign. Apparently JustGiving can't manage a long campaign :( ! Anyway, we have raised £2100 so far with £17900 still to go. With your help, we'll get there. THANK YOU!

This is my story...

Being a dedicated optimist is hard work – not for the faint-hearted – and there have been periods in my life when the work of happiness has been just too hard. I have suffered with depression since my early teens…but I’ve always managed to manage. It didn’t stop me from handling my day-to-day existence for very long. Then in 2015, I had a complete and utter meltdown. Not just the crushing, numbing nothingness of depression but also the dizzying horror of panic attacks too. It was, hands down, the deepest and darkest period of my life thus far.

This is why I’m doing the Clipper Round the World Race. My Clipper journey is a step in my journey towards mental health. Being surrounded by nature is where I feed the wild woman inside me...that intuitive, instinctual part of me that is strong and empowered. You cannot be more surrounded by nature than on a 21m boat on the open ocean. You cannot be more empowered than by harnessing nature to take you to amazing new places.
MIND helped me to get here so I've chosen them as the charity to partner with in fundraising over the next year. I want to ensure they can support others who have gone (or are still going) through their own journey. Too many people with mental health issues do not have the support I've been given by my friends, family, coworkers and healthcare providers. All of the people I know and love rallied from all corners of the globe and threw their support into helping me to heal. The only reason I'm able to do this race is down to them and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. They have helped me to rediscover parts of me that I'll need in this race. I love you all.