As some of you might know, in about one week’s time, we will be embarking on an amazing adventure of hiking the Tour de Mont Blanc.  This trek is 170 km with approximately 10,000 m of ascent and descent.  The recommended time for this trek is 11 days, but we plan to complete it in 8!  We’ll cross France, Italy, and Switzerland to tackle tough terrains, incredible mountain passes, and jaw-dropping landscapes. It will be physically and mentally demanding, and frankly… we’re a bit scared (this week has seen constant thunderstorms in the Alps, and there are bears!). 

As we traipse through the Alps climbing the equivalent on Ben Nevis every day with 9-10kg backpacks and in 27C heat, we would like our suffering to raise some money for PF Counselling and make a difference for those struggling with mental health. The importance of accessible mental health is very close to our hearts – Aga faced her own challenges with mental health in the past, where access to counselling was not easily available. She now volunteers as a Counsellor at PF, witnessing first-hand the transformative powers of therapy. We believe no one should be denied support because of their financial situation. 

We’d love for you to join us in supporting PF by donating to our fundraisers. We’ve set a pretty ambitious target of £3,400! That’s £10 for every mile we’re going to walk, but every little bit counts!    

If donating isn’t feasible for you right now, you can still help us by spreading the word – simply share the page with your friends, family, and anyone interested. Your encouragement will keep us motivated during the challenging moments and remind us why we’re doing this. 

You can follow our journey here.

Huge thank you in advance for your generosity and support! 

About PF Counselling: 

The PF Counselling Service is a registered charity established in 1986 as The Pastoral Foundation. It became known simply as ‘the PF’ many years ago when it no longer received financial support from the local church congregations. 

Their vision is to enable people to embrace life more fully through the growth, changes and healing that can take place through the counselling process, regardless of background, experience, or ability to pay. 

Counselling at the PF is provided by voluntary counsellors, supported by volunteer receptionists, a governance Board, and a small staff team. The service is available to individuals over 18; every client is invited to make affordable donations to support our work. PF also runs a Young Adults service (PFYA) – an extension to their core services, specifically for adults aged 15 to 25. 

Although PF has a team of around 110 counsellors, unfortunately, due to high demand, PF’s waiting lists are often closed due to limited capacity. They do not receive any continuous funding from outside sources and rely solely on fundraising efforts, client donations, and the generosity of individuals who decide to contribute to the PF. 

To give you an idea, the provision of private counselling typically costs around £60 per session. However, many of their clients are unable to pay the suggested minimum contribution of £15 per session. Their policy of never turning anyone away because of financial limitations means they are always left with a funding gap to bridge.