Hi, I’m Andy, I have spent much of my life being inspired by the outdoors and for the last 15 years I’ve managed and run an outdoor fitness and adventure company. I have been lucky enough to make a career out of something I love and am passionate about.

Alongside the outdoor fitness business, I ran adventure weekends which included wild camping and ascending some of the lesser-known peaks of North Wales and England – my aim was to create unique and unforgettable experiences in the wilderness of the mountain environment, giving others the opportunity to step out of their daily life and routine and back into nature. Each adventure was unique and would leave you with something truly memorable. Everyone returned feeling re-charged and invigorated with an increased confidence to go on outdoor adventures of their own.

Unfortunately, earlier on this year I was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma. As you can imagine this came as a complete and total shock to me and my family. As someone who has spent a lifetime being committed to their health and wellbeing and in subsequent years that of others it was inconceivable that I would be the victim of such a cruel and debilitating disease. That said, my type of cancer targets no specific type of person and is simply a case of ‘bad luck.’ Since my diagnosis in April, one of my greatest disappointments is that my ongoing symptoms have now prevented me from doing many of the things of which I love including being a fitness instructor and mountain leader.

However, the support, encouragement and help I have received over the past few months have allowed me to begin to come to terms with my ‘new normal’ life. My sister Catherine kept reminding me that I can still endeavour to challenge and achieve many things in life even if with a different manner to how I would have done so before. On a mountain when the weather turns, or the terrain isn’t quite as expected I would have to stop and think, make adaptations to lead others confidently and safely across objective dangers. The same strategy applies to our everyday lives – in life, when we are thrown curve balls, we have the choice to either crumble and breakdown or stand strong and find an alternative pathway. Bearing in mind my mountain leader background I have decided to follow my lead and climb three of the highest mountains in the UK virtually. I will be completing this at home by climbing my staircase attached to a fixed line for assistance – a system which is adopted by mountaineers on steep and challenging ground. By being versatile, adapting my environment yet still challenging myself to achieve my goal there is no reason why anyone else cannot do the same.

I have been extremely fortunate and lucky in my 57 years to have been to some incredible places, seen extraordinary sights, experienced amazing moments. So many of the young people whom Teens Unite support are still in their early formative years and have an entire world to discover and experiences to fulfil. I am hopeful that my challenge and mindset can inspire and excite them into achieving similar. By overcoming and adapting, using my knowledge and skill set from my fitness and mountain leader qualifications/career, the resilience and discipline I learned in the armed forces and my own personal passion to continue inspiring and motivating others despite whatever restrictions life has thrown at them has given me a new sense of purpose. I am excited and raring to go with my climb!

The ‘Big Outdoors’ is the best canvas to exercise your body mind and soul. Living with Cancer is S##T however, anyone and everyone who wants to achieve something inspirational in their lives is capable of doing so if they put their mind to it and have the right support network around them.

I strongly believe “following YOUR passion in life is far more rewarding than following the crowd,” push yourself out of your comfort zone and see what happens.

Follow me on my first accent, all 668 flights of stairs to the top of Mount Snowdon and please donate to this wonderful charity who support young people and their families dealing with cancer and all the challenges it brings. Your donations will go towards providing young teens and adults with opportunities to embark on exciting experiences and adventures, which will boost their confidence and self-esteem but also give them a new focus away from their cancer journeys. Thank you.

Distances are as follows:

Snowdon - 1085m - 668 flights of stairs

Scafell Pike - 978m - 602 flights of stairs

Ben Nevis - 1345m - 828 flights of stairs

Totalling 3408m - 2098 flights of stairs