As a child I suffered from mental health problems. I always felt different and I was the child that other parents did not want their kids to play with. Around the age of 11, I was sniffing solvents, by 15 I had left school with almost no exams and was taking most drugs. By the time I was 30  I was severely depressed, had zero self-esteem and suffered from crippling anxiety only held at bay by the daily cocktail of both prescribed and illegal medication. 

My recovery started in Sept 2009. With support, I stopped using illegal drugs, took my medication as prescribed and spent what was to become the hardest two years of my life getting well. The hardest, and what in hindsight became the most freeing. 

I joined the Samaritans and the 5 years I spent with those guys gave me so much more than I could ever put into words. That led me on to a full-time job. At the same time, I went back to study and spent four years earning a Counselling qualification. Beyond all my dreams I qualified and graduated. If I can do it, so can you!

I met current my partner in 2017, moved to Oxfordshire to live with her and became employed in the local area.

This coming May I have decided to walk the 87 miles of the ridgeway without coming down (free camping) over 5 or 6 days depending on how much I can cover in a day (I can currently do 10-15 miles in a training stint with sore feet the end, needing a few days to recover…) – My support will meet me once a day on route with food and water and anything else I may need.

I am doing this to really challenge myself and once again attempt a long journey. Walking, for me is so good for my mental health. It allows me to be in the moment, noticing what is around me in the here and now.
Oxfordshire is such a wonderful county and I feel very lucky to be both alive, and living in such a wonderful place.

My current fitness levels allow me to do 1 or 2 long walks a week so doing this will be quite tough, doing it alone with no one to talk to will be even tougher (for me!) Doing it alone carrying a backpack weighted as "bl**dy heavy" will be harder still!

Oxfordshire Mind is the counties leading mental health charity that works tirelessly with those suffering or struggling with their own mental health. They offer so much from emotional support, information, transitional housing and wellbeing services and much, much more. Many local people go through a difficult time at one point or another and charities like OM are there to support them. Any monies raised from my walk will be given to those guys. They do such a stellar job. I hope to raise 10 pounds for every mile of the ridgeway - Please, please help.

Alongside my walk, local artist Sophie Elliot ( https://www.instagram.com/domoredoodling/
) is going to auction an A1 Size oil painting of the Ridgeway in Oxfordshire in the style of Turner with all monies raised from this auction going to Oxfordshire mind. The auction will take place on ebay on the same week as I walk.

Picture coming soon!