During my childhood I became aware of how fragile  mental health can be and the impact it can have on daily life and family life. 

My brother Paul suffered with bi-polar from the age of 18, it turned him from a fun loving young man into a shell of his former self.  Medication had little impact and he eventually felt he could no longer tolerate his life. In January 2003, my father received a phone call that no parent wants to receive.  My brother had hung himself.

Following a bout of bad health in 2013 and following some months of depression my father also committed suicide. 

So I am climbing Kilimanjaro in memory of my loved ones, out of respect for them and a grudging respect for this silent illness which shows no visible wounds, but which devastates lives and families.

I am funding this trip myself - all your donations will go towards raising money for research into mental illness and support for families whose lives are affected by it. 

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