Knowing the incredible support this superb charity, Mercy UK provided for our friend Connie, we have set ourselves a huge challenge this year. We, Brenda, Danielle and Grace, will be walking with Connie, supporting one another, as we venture along the West Highland Way!

8 days walking 96 miles from Glasgow to Fort William.

And because we won’t be tired enough, we will be climbing Ben Nevis on 1st September to celebrate four years of walking in freedom, since Connie's graduation from the home of Mercy!

As a team we are aiming to raise £10 per mile of the West Highland Way. And dare we to dream - Any extra would be the cherry on top of Ben Nevis!!

Our dream is to raise enough money to help others discover hope and freedom for their life, and to enable those in need to receive the excellent support and care, as Connie did.

Here’s a little more about Connie’s journey:

As I’m reaching the milestone of 30 this June (EEK!!) I’ve been reflecting on the past decade. I battled with anxiety and depression for over 2 years in my early 20's. Five years ago on my birthday, I received a call that gave me a lifeline of hope to hold onto. Mercy UK phoned to say I had been accepted onto their residential program, for people struggling with their mental health.

While holding onto the lifeline of hope of a place at Mercy UK, I received resources and recommendations to help start my journey and prepare for the program delivered in the home, along with regular check-in video calls with the fantastic admissions team. After nine months, I finally entered the home on 1st March 2022. I will never be able to fully express the depth of gratitude I have for all those at Mercy. For the time, space, counselling, prayer, teaching, encouragement and holistic support around the clock.

I found freedom from labels/names I had internally used and lived by, such as ‘Failure’. It had got to the point in life where I couldn’t do anything, hardly leaving the house, or being able to apply for my next job because in my mind I was good for nothing, I had already failed because that’s who I was, and I hated to let people down. The journey at Mercy was far from smooth and easy. Many a time I considered leaving, yet gradually I discovered more about who I am, my source of strength, a hope and desire for life, and the ‘keys to freedom’. Like a key, these lessons I learnt were just keys, unless I placed them into the lock and turned them to open the way forward to Freedom. I found freedom from the grip of my past, and most importantly I rediscovered a love, desire and hope for life!

This past year, I have found myself in a challenging chapter, in which I’ve been leaning into and utilising these keys to freedom once more. Knowing the incredible support and teachings this superb charity provided me, I set myself a huge challenge, wishing to raise awareness and funds to enable others in need to receive the excellent support and care. My dream is to raise enough to help others discover hope and freedom for life,

During this challenge, I will we be relying on those keys once more. I intend to reclaim some adventure in Scotland, which I lost owing to anxiety and depression being so present while I tried to participate in the adventure and discipleship course “Soul Edge” in Kilmalieu.

Thank you for supporting us through your encouragement and sponsorship which will go towards the work of Mercy UK. We will do our best to keep you updated of our progress on our journey.