I’m taking on this challenge in support of Mind; the Mental Health Charity to raise awareness of the issues that can affect all of us and to let you know that help is out there. Mental Health issues can affect any one of us at any time...

I’ve been a Police Officer for 16 years, and can speak from personal experience of the effects of stress, depression and PTSD and how it can have a huge negative impact on your life.

Unfortunately, Emergency Services workers are at a much greater risk of experiencing a mental health problem than the rest of us, but they are less likely to seek the support they need.

Mind has been delivering the Blue Light Programme to support the Ambulance Service, Police, Fire and Rescue and Search and Rescue Services and all of their volunteers and I want to make sure that I can make as many of them aware of this, so they can get the help and support they need without any fear or resorting to desperate measures. 

Worrying data from Mind reveals that one in four of the UK population suffer from a mental health condition and that one in four of our Blue Light workers are experiencing such high levels of mental health problems and stress including PTSD, that they have contemplated suicide or thought about leaving the job.

Tragically, I have lost friends and people I’ve worked with who have taken their own lives or have left the police because of the stress.

This is my motivation to do what I’m doing, to raise awareness and send a message out to EVERYONE that help is available and it is not a sign of weakness or something to be afraid of.

In recent years, I have been busy climbing a few mountains and with my passion for adventure it’s taken me on expeditions from Mount Kilimanjaro to the Himalaya and it’s changed my life.

Mount Everest is a staggering 8,848 meters or the cruising height of a jet liner.

I am living at extreme altitude and I will need to rely on supplementary oxygen in an area known as the ‘Death Zone’ that exists above 8,000 metres where the human body is not designed to survive.

Coping with inhospitable and freezing conditions, I will be on Everest for 8 weeks whilst I acclimatise on my way up.

I have been training hard and reaching out to as many people as I can including the Emergency Services to make this expedition count for something.

I am trying to self fund this expedition, so every penny you donate here, will go straight to Mind and I need your help and support to make this expedition a success in raising as much money and awareness for Mental Health as I can. My target is to reach £10,000, but I would truly love to exceed this with your help...

Thank you very much and cheers for all of your support.

Jamie