I am a former Royal Marines Commando who up until 2003 was a keen mountaineer climbing reasonably difficult routes.

That all stopped when I got ill.

From 2003 onwards, I started to suffer with mental health issues and diagnosed with complex PTSD.  

Despite help in 2008 onwards, nothing really seemed to work until I received specific therapy from Rock 2 Recovery to help treat this debilitating condition which was taking hold of my life and indirectly that of my families.

Over this long period of time became sedentary, overweight, unfit and I would put what effort I had into my work despite knowing the condition was with me everyday and attacking my self worth and my that of my family.

In 2019, I found 65 Degrees North - they contacted me and asked if I’d like to attend a ‘Rock Climbing’ week in Cornwall - I hadn’t climbed seriously since 2003 and felt vulnerable and nervous.

I said yes and joined the 65 Degrees North team in Cornwall for a week and quickly had that burning desire to get back into an activity, one that I had once loved and was fairly good at.

They took time with me and showed compassion and empathy and that I was not alone in this personal battle raging inside me.

I feel alive again, I can breathe again.

Since then my life has considerably changed for the better.  I got fit, lost all the excess weight, have loads of new energy and have a completely different and more positive outlook on life..

65DN put the hunger and pride back inside me; the fire is burning and I am finally on the UP…

Not only have I found myself again, my family see ‘Chris’ again, I’ve now been able to share Father and Daughter time - led her on the Mont Blanc massif lower reaches and feel that 65 Degrees North made this dream a reality.

Now it’s my turn to give back!

!