Alex Staniforth
30 dips in 30 days!
Fundraising for Mind Over Mountains
Story
My latest challenge was 30 days without running or training to try and beat this post-viral fatigue/under recovery illness. But 3 months after Covid I still don’t feel much closer to running again.
Outdoor swimming/dips are one of the few things currently that don’t seem to make my symptoms worse - maybe because I’m just too numb to feel anything. But most importantly, it’s helping to keep my mental health afloat when things have felt like a sinking ship.
So, for the next 30 days I’ll be going for a swim/dip (at least 2 mins) every day. I know, it’s hardly a challenge, but despite being a certified PADI scuba diver, open water still freaks me out and I’m an utter wimp in the cold. Trying to fasten my own wetsuit is a sponsored challenge itself...
I had plans for a running FKT challenge this summer for Mind Over Mountains. Obviously that won’t be happening this year, but if we could raise £40 per swim, that would fund 30 bursary places for people to attend our day walks and get time in nature with professional mental health support.Please support if you can!
Mind Over Mountains are a mental health charity offering immediate and accessible support by bringing together hill-walking and mindfulness in nature, alongside time with experienced coaches and counsellors in an unpressured, unhurried setting.
Here’s what your donation could contribute towards:
- £40 would pay for one person to attend a day-walk
- £50 would provide a follow-up professional counselling for someone in need
- £195 would cover a full weekend of respite in nature