What made you take on this challenge?
“The idea came about almost a year ago now. I had been hearing about more people doing interesting endurance challenges, and I wanted to see if that was something I could do. I’d wanted to raise some funds for a mental health charity for a while, and then one day, while I was sitting with a brew, the idea came to me, and I committed to it on the spot.”
Why was the Isle of Skye the ideal starting point for this 30 in 30 project?
“I chose the Isle of Skye, specifically the northernmost point, because that’s where I have some very fond memories of holidaying with my mum, two sisters and my best mate growing up. I’ve incorporated some meaningful places on the journey, such as the family home in Liverpool, and I wanted to use the 30 days of running as a time to reflect on my life so far, and these meaningful places will serve as ‘bookmarks’ to do that. I will be finishing in London because that’s where I live now, and it made sense to run home.”
What has the industry’s response been like?
“The industry’s response has been one of intrigue. It’s not the sort of challenge that you hear about every day, so most people have a list of questions, and although the conversation starts with a tone of scepticism, it most shifts to become one of warmth and support. A lot of these chats with colleagues in the industry come to a similar point with them saying one of a couple things; ‘I’ve had a few ups and downs myself’ or ‘Yeah, I had a friend who suffered with their mental health’. It really is a case of, if you haven’t experienced a mental health issue yourself, then you absolutely know someone who has. This is one of the things I want to highlight with this challenge.”
Why raise money for Backup Tech?
“The reason I wanted to run for Backup Tech specifically was that I wanted to run in solidarity with my friends and colleagues who may be struggling with their mental health. The events industry is a great industry and I’m proud of the work I do. But it’s a particularly stressful one, and I’ve seen and experienced the toll that it can take when we are working a physically demanding job, often with unsociable hours, with so many different moving parts and a very strict timeframe. I chose the charity, Backup Tech, to support an industry that has been very good to me over the years but presents its own unique challenges for the mental health of everyone involved.”
What do you hope the lasting impact will be?
“I’m hoping that my challenge will highlight the issue of mental health, not as a taboo subject, but as one that deserves to be spoken about in the same way we would talk about our physical health. I hope it will help anyone experiencing a problem with their mental health to understand that they are not the only person struggling and that it’s a normal and solvable problem, but that if it seems unsolvable, these charities are here to help guide anyone who needs them. And selfishly, I want to see what I’m capable of and push the limits of what I believe is achievable for myself and have one hell of an adventure while I’m at it.”
Words and photo: David Walmsely
