NORWAY QUEST 2018

Hey everyone,

I'm James Nicholls' brother and I dream of being able to scatter his ashes somewhere incredible, to help honour his memory, and bring some happiness to our family. I want to photograph this journey to share with you all, in memory of James.

I've made a website dedicated to James; if you're interested in art, music or mental health awareness and advice go check it out! This is the same site where I'll be posting my travel blog this summer/autumn 2018, so if you're interested in reading it, feel free to bookmark this website for later. I'll be posting on facebook leading up to and during my journey through Norway, to let everyone know! :)

The new website dedicated to James. Click here!

Here is the address if you prefer to type it in: alextoast.wixsite.com/jamesnicholls

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I'm planning a 'quest' to Norway for 2018, where I will scatter his ashes at a Norwegian fjord such as Trolltunga (pictured above). This choice is personal to our family and James, as we've found out that he had Scandinavian genes, following a DNA test we did as a family (this photo pretty much says it all).

During our journey, I will be writing a 'mental health travel blog', where I will post photos of our adventure. I will also use this blog to provide support, advice, and to raise awareness of mental health, as James suffered through depression, and this is what eventually took him from us all. I will share useful things I've learnt from my own journey through anxiety and reactive depression, to help people who may be suffering. I hit rock bottom and learn many useful concepts and ideas that helped me climb back up to happiness. I will also include direct quotes of advice from James, that he wrote to help me with my own mental well-being and happiness.

THE BLOG CAN BE FOUND AT THIS WEBSITE:

alextoast.wixsite.com/jamesnicholls

THE RACE: On the 12th November 2017, I ran 10km with my friends, in honour of James, as this was the date he passed away last year, and was also 'Remembrance Sunday'. I ran to raise the money needed to travel to Norway and scatter James' ashes at the Norwegian fjord Trolltunga (pictured). Thank you to everyone who has donated already, you are all amazing and so kind! Incredibly, people are still donating, and I really appreciate this as the whole trip may be around £2k. Please do not feel obliged however, I am just so happy people are interested, and have wanted to help me and my family.

DONATIONS: The money you contribute will go towards this journey of honouring James. If there turns out to be excess funding, this will go towards promoting James' website, artwork, and/or mental health awareness. I would plan to combine these elements, and create an exhibition that uses his artwork to raise understanding of mental health. However, it's most likely I will have to use my own savings to complete the journey, as I know it won't be cheap.

(TO YOU ALL) Thank you so much for your time and your kindness. Any help I can get means so much to me and our family. If you don't wish to donate, it would still be so nice to share this page or my facebook message to make this more public. If you wish to contact me for any reason, or for information on running with me, please email or facebook message me here:

alextoast@hotmail.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/alexander.nicholls.7

Archived information:

I am making this an 'open run', so that all are free to join me, who feel that running in memory of James is something that they could enjoy, or would help them show their respects to James (if interested please message me). Additionally, I'm thinking that if we can get a few of us running together, we can raise more awareness of mental health through the internet, and also bring more attention to remembering James. All are welcome to come along to support the runners, as we will go somewhere for a meal afterwards to celebrate and support each other, and once again share great memories of James. I am hoping that we can turn such an awful anniversary into something different and better. UPDATE: I now have four amazing friends who will be joining me on the day to run together!! Lee, Owen, Dominic, and Laurence.

(To the runners:) I'm planning the run to be at Sherwood Forest, as this is where James and I had some great memories of our childhood, and the soil and grass will be better for our knees. However, if it rains, the plan is to take a 'concrete run' from West Park in Long Eaton, to St. Chad's Water near Draycott (where our Uncle Russell's ashes are scattered) and back home. If you do plan to run alongside me, it would be amazing if you could also crowdfund (using this webpage, or another 'justgiving' page of your own if you like) to raise money to this cause.