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All links for The Big Rounds Project can be found here: https://linktree.com/danbeaumont

Documentation of The Big Rounds project can be found on Dan's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danobeaumont/

As part of the project, our team is making a film about the synergy between the great outdoors and positive mental health. Here is a link to the film teaser: https://youtu.be/sejkDJkaJ0Y?feature=shared

Introduction

Hi everyone, my name's Dan and through 2024, I'm challenging myself to run 'The Big Rounds' - a UK endurance running challenge - in support of the fantastic work Mind Over Mountains is doing to help people overcome mental health challenges through therapeutic outdoor events; bringing together hill-walking, mindfulness and time with experienced counsellors and coaches.

The Challenge - The Big Rounds

Throughout 2023 and 2024 I'm attempting to complete The Big Rounds of the UK, each in less than 24 hours.

The Bob Graham Round (Lake District, England), Paddy Buckley (Snowdonia, Wales), Charlie Ramsay (The Highlands, Scotland) and Denis Rankin are known to mountain runners as four of the most difficult 24-hour ultra running challenges in the world.

Given the unpredictable weather of the UK, navigating technical mountain terrain, and complex organisation and logistical challenges, this is an enormous project that simultaneously excites and scares me.

Collectively, 'The Big Rounds’ take in 152 mountain summits (including the highest peaks in England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland), more than 31,200m (102,362ft) of ascent and almost 400km (248 miles) across four of Britain’s most distinct mountain ranges – the Snowdonia National Park in Wales, the Lake District National Park in England, Lochaber in the highlands of Scotland, and the Mourne Mountains of Northern Ireland.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Round 1 - Bob Graham: Saturday 27th May - Sunday 28th May 2023 // Lake District, England: 8,163m (26,778ft) of ascent over 98.78km (61.37 miles) and 42 mountains. (Completed in 23 hours 25 minutes ✅)

🍀 Round 2 - Denis Rankin: Saturday 30th March 2024 - Sunday 31st March 2024 // Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland: 6,200m (20,341ft) of ascent over 90km (55.92 miles) covering 39 mountains. (Completed in 21 hours 29 minutes ✅)

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Round 3 - Paddy Buckley: Saturday 1st June - Sunday 2nd June 2024 // Snowdonia, Wales: 8,700m (28,750ft) of ascent over 100.5km (62.43 miles) covering 47 mountains.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Round 4 - Charlie Ramsay: Saturday 3rd August - Sunday 4th August 2024 // Lochaber, Scotland: 8,803m (28879ft) of ascent over 92.83km (57.6 miles) covering 23 Munros and 1 subsidiary mountain.

For more information about the challenge, please visit: https://www.cicerone.co.uk/what-are-the-big-rounds

My Story & Why I'm Supporting Mind Over Mountains

Whether addiction, anxiety, depression, abuse or loss, life is challenging. Whether our families, close friends, or ourselves, we all struggle with mental health in some way or another. Suffering is inevitable in life, but through passion and purpose, I believe we can find ways (completely personal to each of us) to find meaning and purpose in our suffering.

Ever since I was a kid, the great outdoors have played a precious role in my life. Memories of far-out adventures with friends roaming the countryside on foot are held fondly in my mind. As I've grown older, my affinity to nature has only strengthened, developing into a deep passion for mountain running, and using the great outdoors to build resilience, navigate challenges in life and better manage my own mental and physical well-being.

I believe we stand at a crossroads at this moment in time in Western society. Staggering levels of loneliness coupled with the cost of living crisis and our reliance on technology and screens are inadvertently causing a disconnection with ourselves, our loved ones and nature at large.

During lockdown, on the back of isolation and struggles with my mental health, I decided to take time out and go back to my roots and where it all started - The Lake District National Park. While rediscovering home, I developed a deep passion for Fell Running and how this sacred sport - specific to UK mountain regions - is a powerful, meditative and therapeutic practice for managing my one's mental and physical well-being.

Mind Over Mountains lives the philosophy that movement, the great outdoors and community can be powerful catalysts for positive mental and physical well-being. They are doing excellent work to support those struggling with their mental health - running retreats and walks in the hills that combine counselling, challenge and community - bringing people back to the basic needs of nature that have somewhat strayed loose given the chaos of the modern technological world.

Their mission is inspiring, one which I'm passionate about supporting and I hope you are too. I hope that through this challenge, we can rally together and raise as many donations as possible to better support their work.

About Mind Over Mountains

Mind Over Mountains enables those living in difficult circumstances to get out into the wild and explore. Their programme offers immediate and accessible therapeutic support by bringing together hill-walking and mindfulness in nature, alongside time experienced with coaches and counsellors in an unpressured, unhurried setting.

Their mission is to help those struggling with mental challenges to boost resilience, develop self-help skills and ensure everyone has access to the wild and healing outdoor spaces the UK has to offer.

They deliver events throughout the UK, ranging from one-day to weekend retreats, with bursaries available to those with the most challenging lives. This safe, confidential space to walk and talk gives those who are struggling an opportunity to escape the hardships of life and find the support of others in similar positions. They work with anyone over 18 who may have limited success with or access to traditional mental health therapies.

Your donation will enable Mind Over Mountains to provide bursaries on events to those facing financial hardship, long-term illness, abusive circumstances, who have suffered a recent loss or are in a full-time care role for another.

Here’s what your donation could contribute towards:

•£40 would pay for one person to attend a ramble (a day walk + 4 hours of coaching/mindfulness)

•£50 would provide an hour session of professional counselling for someone in need

•£195 would cover 1 bursary place on a residential weekend

•£1,800 would pay for an entire day ramble for up to 18 people

•£4,700 would cover a weekend residential for up to 18 people

Final Notes

100% of donations will go to Mind Over Mountains and will make a significant difference in the lives of those who are struggling with their mental health, and want to change but don’t know where to start.

I am documenting the entirety of this journey (links below) in full - the good, the bad, the ugly - with the hope that this adventure inspires others to get out there and use the gift of mother nature to build resilience, learn about themselves and improve their mental & physical well-being.

Thank you for your support - I appreciate all your donations and support.

Dan's Links

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/danbeaumont

Instagram: https://instagram.com/danobeaumont

Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/danbeaumont

Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/user/553841159058?ref=imk

Mind Over Mountains Links

Website: https://mindovermountains.org.uk/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mind_o_mountains

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermountainscic/

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