Hi, my name is Aaron.

Starting on Monday, 22nd of June 2026, I will be travelling to Morocco and completing a challenge up the High Atlas Mountains with my University, The University of Bath. I will be trekking to the summit of Mt Toubkal, which is 4,167m above sea level.

With this challenge, I will be raising money to support Student Minds, with a goal of £1940. Student mental health is important to me because I understand that aspects of university can often feel overwhelming, and this can be disruptive to overall university life. It’s a crisis, as one in three students has been reported to have poor mental health. I’ve seen my fair share of students struggling with anxiety and feeling lonely. I believe Student Minds can provide tools to empower students and help them thrive through its resources and push for policies that address and prioritise student mental health. This will benefit not only students but also society as a whole, as students play a crucial role in keeping our world moving forward.

You may ask, “Hey Aaron, why are YOU climbing a mountain for student mental health?”. Sisyphus was condemned to the underworld to push a large boulder up a mountain. When he came near the top, it rolled back down, and he had to repeat this task for eternity. The Greek mythos has become an allegory about how aspects of the human condition seem meaningless or a cruel joke by the Gods. However, Sisyphus's condemnation can be viewed as a testament to perseverance and resilience against what appear to be insurmountable odds. The French philosopher Albert Camus, in his essay ‘The Myth of Sisyphus,’ suggests that we can always find joy, a sense of freedom and fulfilment through our times of struggles and challenges in life. Camus concludes that we must imagine Sisyphus is happy.

I hope my completion of this challenge will inspire other students, especially those struggling with their mental health, to sign-up for Bath challenges in the future. I can guarantee that this trek will provide me with experiences that I will forever cherish and help give me new perspectives on life as I learn about Moroccan culture and admire their amazing land. I also look forward to connecting with the lovely people I meet, whether during the trek itself or through fundraising efforts.

By donating (whether it's big or small), you’ll be helping to put an end to the student mental health crisis and helping them have a great time at university, which is what every student deserves. If you’re a student reading this, just know I’m proud of you.

Thank you, and your support means the world,

Aaron :)