In June 2019, I will be taking part in the Three Peaks Challenge with the UOB Carnival RAG to raise money for Mind - a mental health charity.

I will be walking 23 miles, climbing the total of 10,052ft and covering the total driving distance of 462 miles in around 24 hours. I will begin at fresh-faced at Ben Nevis, clamber up Scaffel Pike equipped with head torch before sun rise and then end the challenge accomplished at Snowdon. 

Although a physical challenge for me, it is also a mental one. Yet it is nothing like the mental challenges people face daily. 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. Even though I know I am one of these people, I never expected this statistic to include my Dad.

Being a Dad you want to protect your child, without the need for them to worry. You want to be strong - bulletproof. Being a Dad - you simply just want to 'get on with it'. You want to be the 'man of the house'. The stereotypes of masculinity harm boys and men, they are so much less likely to ask for help. Consequently, the highest suicide rate in the UK was for men aged 45-49. It is okay not to be okay. 

My Dad reaching out for help with his mental health was the best thing that ever happened to him. It was the reason I reached out too.

Therefore, it is about time that I did something too - to put myself through a different mental challenge to raise awareness of the importance of ending the mental health stigma. 

I am climbing for Mind. They are campaigning for a time to change as stigma and discrimination against mental health RUIN lives - it is a large reason why people do not speak out when it is crucial that they do. It could save their life. Although there has been a 8.3% overall improvement in people's attitudes there is no reason this figure should stay stagnant. 

Your donation will help Mind give life-saving information to those that need it most. Allow for change. Transform the stigma. It will give me the drive to get through those 23 miles on less than 4 hours sleep. It will potentially give others their life back.

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.