I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), also known as 'ME', when I was 13. It is a horrible, and misunderstood chronic physical illness that left me housebound and barely able to even walk for a very long time. There is no known cause and no known cure, and a lack of help via the NHS. It hugely impacted my life and wellbeing for many years. Finding help at the Optimum Health Clinic was a critical turning point in my recovery, and I am eternally grateful for their support and admire the work that they do. I am launching this fundraising project to do my bit and give back.

I would also like to use this as an opportunity to raise awareness. Unfortunately, when I was ill, I discovered that the condition is surrounded by a lot of stigma, and people were all too often tempted to not believe me. Perhaps this is because it is not a particularly visible illness. As part of this project, I am making a series of videos at my Uni which will discuss different aspects of CFS and recovery (including my personal experiences), and document the training I will be undertaking in preparation for this enormous trekking challenge. I hope that this series of videos will be a source of hope for anyone experiencing CFS, particularly at a young age, and a source of inspiration for everyone to remember the value and fundamental importance of good health and to appreciate the astonishing ability of our bodies to recover.

Mount Elbrus, located in Southern Russia, is a certified member of the Seven Summits and the tallest mountain in Europe. It is an undeniably strenuous hike with a permanent ice cap, so I will be using an ice axe and crampons to battle my way to the top. I've gone from being unable to leave the house to pursuing a passion for hiking in the mountains, and planning to summit a 5642m high monster, while living a completely normal life as a university student. I really hope this stands as a message to show just how possible recovery really is.

See below for links to each video episode as I make them!