Hello everyone,

So everyone's probably aware by now that I'm a bit of a sporty bean and to carry on the classic Scott tradition of overestimating his ability to do something, I am going to challenge myself to run the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge in order to raise money for a mental health charity that supported me through tough times, Mind. 

Here's a little bit about why:

In August 2019, I was diagnosed with an Anxiety with Depression disorder. This didn't come as much of a surprise to me - I had been battling mental health issues for most of my life, especially in secondary school. I'd had a counsellor in Sixth form for 2 years where I struggled with crippling anxiety, to the point I couldn't even walk into the common room because I was so scared what everyone thought of me. It was only really last year where, after advice from loved ones, I took myself to the doctors to get it sorted out. After breaking down in tears in front of my doctor and struggling to explain what was wrong with me apart from the fact i felt utterly hopeless, I was diagnosed with an Anxiety with Depression disorder, and I was put on anti-depressants. The last year and a half especially, my battle with my mental health has led me to some very dark places, on the back of numerous personal issues I had previously failed to confront. Luckily for me, more recently I was referred through the Mental Health Crisis Team in Durham to Mind for fast-response counselling, a service of fantastic professionals that helped me out in a time of crisis, where I couldn't see a way out of the way I was feeling.

The best way I can describe depression is that whilst many people may experience true happiness in their life, be it with friends, partners, family or (most importantly) alone, a depressed person feels as though they cannot experience true happiness, and that activities and time spent with others is just a distraction from their feelings of inadequacy, failure, loneliness and misery. When this escalates, and you experience a big life event such as heartbreak, loss, a health diagnosis, or some other significant change, the feeling of hopelessness can quickly dictate your life. For me, at times, I felt as though I couldn't even get out of bed because there was nothing worth carrying on for. Every day becomes very grey and dark, and it can feel like there's no way out of the way you're feeling, which can lead some people to act on suicidal thoughts they might be having. It is a battle that so many people go through alone. Even if you're lucky to have a great support network around you (like I have), you may feel as though no-one truly understands what you're going through, or you feel constantly like you're a failure or a burden on those around you, all contributing to a vicious cycle of self-loathing and loneliness that only worsens someone's depression.

According to Mind, approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year, and 1 in 5 people will have suicidal thoughts in their lifetime. Especially in the light of the recent crisis in world health with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the subsequent measures taken by the UK Government to enact social distancing policies and 'lockdown', there is no worse time for people struggling with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Having a routine in your life and the ability to exercise has been absolutely critical to managing my mental health, and whilst one thing doesn't always work for anyone, exercise has been proven to improve mental health by improving sleep, mood and the managing of stress or anxiety through the release of hormones such as serotonin and cortisol. Whilst the lockdown has given people more time to exercise, not everyone always has the means, knowledge or motivation to get themselves out of bed, and during these times a person can feel even more lonely and hopeless without their usual routine. This is where charities like Mind and the mental health services in this country are absolutely crucial in providing a service for people battling mental health to reach out to in these difficult times.

So, you might be asking, what is the 3 peaks challenge? Why are you running it, Scott? Have you gone utterly insane already after only a week in lockdown? Here's the answers to all three:

1) The Yorkshire Three Peaks route is 24 miles in total (38.6km), and includes 1585m (5200ft) of ascent, taking on the mountains of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, and the challenge is to complete this in under 12 hours (for walkers). These are situated in the beautiful heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, making the perfect (near) marathon.

2) I want to run the 3 peaks because sport has always been a massive part of my life, but I've never been a super achiever, and I've never truly tested my potential because I have often let my own mental health get in the way of routine. The never-ending cycle of getting 'fit for summer' or achieving a 'dream body' has collapsed into feeling unmotivated, not committing myself 100% to something and then feeling like I've failed or that I'm inadequate. This is just a small cog in a much bigger machine, however, and brings me to the main point, and my main motivation: I'm running this alone, to put myself through hell, for the many people who suffer in silence on their own and go through hell every day of their lives - a feeling I know all too well. I feel like if I can show people that I can come back from where I've been, and complete this challenge, not only will I prove to myself my resilience and help me feel as if I have achieved something significant, but more importantly I'll prove to everyone going through mental health issues that anything is possible, and that life can be and IS worth living.

3) Yes, quite possibly. 

It would mean the world to me if you could support me through this by sharing my cause, getting friends and family to donate, or simply just spreading the word. I will be sure to keep everyone updated on my progress - currently due to restrictions on travel and needing to train sufficiently to reach the fitness levels required to complete the challenge, I'm hoping to run the 3 peaks in around August. I will update the exact date nearer the time, but that's my plan currently!

And I would like to extend a message to anyone going through mental health issues, whether I know you or not - you're not alone. If you need someone to speak to, I'd love it if you felt comfortable enough to reach out and share your experience with me - let's fight this thing together!

Thanks so much everyone for reading; let's spread some positivity in these uncertain times!

Scott x