A 110km self-supported trek through the arctic circle in -25degrees for charity, how hard could It be?!

It sounded great on paper- a rare, once in a lifetime adventure to travel to a remote, far-flung (and freezing) destination, in the name of mental health.

This was the trip of dreams!

A great personal challenge; both physical and mental; an opportunity to do something worthwhile, to be part of something so fundamentally life affirming and life changing, it was going to be amazing!

Or so I romanticized.

Fast forward a handful of weeks post tropical Brazil trip to the great Manx frost of December 22' and it’s -4 degree temps; I was struggling badly to acclimatize and was harshly reminded that I thoroughly despise the cold.

A 7 day trek in the harsh, desolate Arctic, wearing the same pair of knickers and pulling a sledge (on rations) was starting to sound less appealing by the day.

Unfortunately I’d seen the heartbreak and horrors of deteriorating mental health and I knew that if people could recover from the depths of depression, I could most definitely put on my big girl pants and spend a week learning to survive in the baltic Arctic.

Having witnessed the demise of an immediate family members mental health, a few years ago, I was all too aware of the fragility and vulnerability that lurked in the dark corners of the mind and the lack and unavailability of support available at the time, was heartbreaking, shocking and hopeless at best.

Thankfully we were one of the lucky families and we able to witness a process of recovery, for which we are eternally grateful. Unfortunately, for so many others, this is heartbreakingly not the case.

Fast forward a few years and local charity, Isle Listen, are creating huge strides forward in getting the support to the people and places that need it most but they desperately need our support. Every day they are working tirelessly to provide early intervention and prevention to avoid unnecessary escalation of mental health problems in our young people, across the island.

Their work is critical, yet they cannot do it alone.

Each one of us holds the responsibility to prepare our young people for the harshness of this world and to inspire and encourage them to greatness.

Resilience is not something that can be bought, or borrowed, nor built in comfortable climates but as result of enduring hard, challenging circumstances and passing through the fire, time and time again and continuing to live on despite the trials and tribulations of the world.

If it could present a glimmer of hope for somebody battling mentally, I would put my money where my mouth was and hurt myself physically. 

Together, with your support, generous donations and the phenomenal work of Isle Listen and many others; I know we can change the trajectory for mental health on island once and for all! 

Not one of us in left untouched by the fragility of mental health (almost 20% of adults are experiencing a mental illness) and our children and their futures desperately depend on us.

Please donate whatever you can. No donation is too small but is greatly received and every single penny raised goes directly to Isle Listen.

If you are not in a position to donate today, please help us to spread the word by sharing.

 We have a big task ahead but with God, all things are possible.