I have struggled with mental health problems since being a child, constantly being in emotional turmoil, struggling to understand what was going on in my own mind. I have been at my worst point, where I was trying to take my own life and have fought my way back from that. 

I am incredibly lucky to be in a great place emotionally now, having invaluable support from family, friends and mental health charities. Charities such as Mind, are the reason I am still here today. They provide life changing support to those that need it the most. 

My own experiences have changed the way I look at the world and I am now in a wonderful place where I want to help and support others. Anyone that knows me, understands how passionate I am about mental health and how much of my life I spend being involved within the mental health community, trying to be a helping hand to others. 

The Mind Hike challenge is graded as 'extreme' level charity challenge which pushes participants to their absolute limits, which includes:

- Trekking for 24 hours continuously with no stops
- Covering approximately 60km of undulating terrain, with the added challenge of walking through harsh mountain terrains through the middle of the night!
- Trekking as part of a team, supporting each and every team member who suffers from a form of mental illness to get through the challenge.

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Mind’s flagship team trek will be a life-changing experience. It will test both my physical and mental endurance, while I traverse some of Britain’s most beautiful and remote countryside and mountain ranges, in the Scottish Isle of Arran.

Mind Hike will also raise much-needed money to help make sure essential services like the Mind Infoline can keep supporting people who often have nowhere else to turn.

The 24 hour Hike is a test of fitness, endurance and team spirit – but dealing with a mental health problem is no walk in the park either. In fact, trying to cope with a mental health problem sometimes feels like the ultimate impossible challenge. Having someone to turn to for advice and support makes all the difference. Whether it’s a family member, friend or one of Mind's highly skilled Infoline operators.

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I need to raise a minimum of £690 to be accepted on the challenge, so any money you can spare would be greatly appreciated.