This year I’ll be taking part in Light the Lakes — an overnight challenge across the Lake District where teams climb the fells through the night and light the summits before dawn in remembrance of colleagues lost, and in support of emergency service wellbeing.

I’m fundraising for PTSD999, a charity supporting UK emergency responders living with PTSD and trauma-related difficulties.

People working in emergency services are regularly exposed to trauma, crisis, loss and situations most people never encounter. Many carry those experiences silently for years. Some recover with support; others continue to struggle long after the incident itself has passed.

PTSD999 provides support, training and recovery-focused care to help emergency responders rebuild their lives, reduce stigma around mental health, and remind people that they do not have to face trauma alone.

Trauma affects people in very different ways, and tragically some people reach a point where life no longer feels bearable.

1 in 5 people will experience suicidal thoughts at some point in time.

Across the UK, around 125 people a week die by suicide — around 17 people every day.

Events like Light the Lakes are about remembrance, solidarity, and trying to change that narrative through openness, support and community.

If you’re able to donate, thank you. If not, simply sharing the page is appreciated just as much.