Annie's Sahara Challenge for Shout
Annie Foster is raising money for Shout and The Mix
Story
Through fundraising for Shout, I want to raise awareness that we are never alone and that someone is there when we are struggling to cope, we feel anxious or we're just feeling overwhelmed.
Everyone needs to know that SHOUT 85258 is there for us!
85258 is a number every young person should have in their phone - because it really can make a difference when you feel that "in-the-moment" desperation. I wasn't aware of the charity Shout until recently, so I hope by doing this challenge, I can help make others aware.
Annie is 17 and is in full time training to become a professional ballerina. Before she started her training in 2018 at the age of 11, Annie had been on many adventures in the Himalaya's, the Atlas Mountains, Tanzania and Norway.
In April 2024 Annie will spend 5 days trekking in the Moroccan Sahara Desert in temperatures in excess of 40˚. Wild camping in the desert means no bathrooms, showers, takeaway food or wifi - and certainly no lazy morning lay ins! Walking in deep sand dunes is tough and her final challenge will be to climb Erg Zaher, a 580m high sand dune deep in the desert. From here, as she watches the sun set, it will be a chance to reflect on her fundraising achievement.
She has been planning this challenge for several years... and is still planning on Everest Base Camp and Kilimanjaro in the future (fingers crossed).
Shout is the UK's only free, confidential and 24/7 text messaging service for anyone struggling to cope with their mental health. Every 60 seconds, someone reaches out for support and has a conversation that could save their life.
£10 can pay for a conversation with someone in crisis
£25 can fund a clinician to provide expert supervision of conversations on Shout's digital mental health platform.
£250 can train a new Shout Volunteer to take life-saving conversations.