100 climbs. Around 60,000 feet of ascent. 95miles. One hill. One purpose.

On 11 September 2026 at 7am, I'm going back to Roseberry Topping.

In 2023, I climbed Roseberry Topping 45 times as part of an Everesting challenge, raising money for Prostate Cancer UK.

I clearly hadn't learnt my lesson.

This time, I'm going back to climb it 100 times.

The aim is to accumulate around 60,000 feet of elevation, roughly twice the height of Mount Everest, while completing the challenge in accordance with the rules for a Double Everesting attempt.

I'll start at 7am and aim to keep the breaks to an absolute minimum. The route has been planned around getting the most efficient elevation from the hill while still completing all 100 climbs.

But this isn't really about the number 100.

It's about what those 100 climbs can help shine a light on.

Why The Headlight Project?

The Headlight Project came into my workplace and delivered a presentation about suicide and the work they do across the Tees Valley.

The presentation made me stop and think.

I've been affected by suicide myself. Many years ago, a friend from college took their own life. More recently, I've also seen the impact much closer to home.

Hearing those personal experiences alongside the statistics really brought home how much work there is still to do.

The North East had the highest suicide rate of any region in England in 2024, with 15.1 suicide deaths registered per 100,000 people.

Those numbers aren't just statistics. Behind every one is a person, and behind every person are family, friends, colleagues and communities left trying to make sense of what has happened.

That's where The Headlight Project comes in.

The Headlight Project aims to reduce the number of deaths by suicide in the Tees Valley area through therapy of those bereaved by suicide and preventative education.

And that's why this challenge felt like the right thing to do.

A few days of suffering for something much bigger

I know this challenge is going to hurt.

There will be exhaustion. There will be sleep deprivation. There will be moments when climbing the same hill for what feels like the hundredth time seems like a ridiculous idea.

But here's the important difference:

I have chosen this. And I know it will end.

I'll eventually finish the 100th climb, come down the hill, go home, eat everything in sight, sleep for about three days and wonder why on earth I thought this was a good idea.

For someone dealing with the aftermath of suicide, however, there isn't a finish line at the end of a few days.

Grief can last for years. The questions can last for years. The impact on families and children can last for generations.

So if I have to spend a few days pushing myself to a physical and mental limit in the hope that it raises awareness, starts conversations and raises money for people doing this work every single day, that's a price I'm more than willing to pay.

But I need your help

This challenge is deliberately bigger than just me.

I can climb the hill 100 times.

I can't make 100 climbs create an impact on my own.

That's where you come in.

If you can donate, thank you.

If you can share this fundraising page with your friends, family, colleagues or social media followers, thank you.

If you can tell someone about The Headlight Project and the work they do, even better.

And if you fancy coming to Roseberry Topping while I'm doing this, I'd absolutely love the company.

Come and walk or climb a rep with me.

Come and do two.

Come and cheer me on.

Come and keep me company when I'm tired and questioning every decision that brought me there.

Or, if you're feeling particularly generous, turn up at 2am with some completely random food and I'll probably consider you a hero.

But honestly, the thing I'd value most is simply sharing this.

Because a donation helps fund the work.

But awareness can reach someone who needs that work.

The more people who know The Headlight Project exists, what they do, and why their work matters, the better.

So please don't feel that you need to donate to help.

Share it. Talk about it. Tell someone.

That could be just as valuable.

Roseberry Topping 100

11 September 2026 — 7am start

100 climbs.

~60,000ft of ascent.

One hill.

One purpose.

If, by the time I reach climb number 100, we've raised money, started conversations, reached people who didn't know about The Headlight Project and helped shine a little more light on suicide prevention and the support available to those affected by suicide...

then every step will have been worth it.

Thank you for reading, supporting, sharing, donating, cheering, climbing, feeding me — or simply helping spread the word.

Let's see what we can do.

#RT100