Mind Over Mountains is an ambitious and innovative mental health charity that enables people to thrive through therapeutic outdoor experiences. Its cornerstone is the belief that everyone should have access to the support they need.

Its wonderful and dedicated team enable people to restore and sustain their mental health and wellbeing through a highly integrated practice that brings together the power of walking in nature, mindfulness, and professional coaching and counselling.

Project 500 is a campaign to raise £500k by June 2025 to provide ongoing mental health support for thousands of people across the UK via Mind Over Mountains charity wellbeing walks and retreats.

For me personally, my family and I have experienced 4 significant and very close bereavements since 2020, these were on top of the usual challenges that modern life brings, and that so many experience.

I have loved walking all my life, but found it difficult to face stepping out without my wife by my side. In 2022 on the recommendation of a colleague I booked on a day walk in The Peaks. This is an area that holds very fond and now poignant memories for me stretching back 4 decades.

I felt that if I could do this walk with the 'safety blanket' of the loving support of the walk leaders and wellbeing team, then I would have the strength and confidence to do familiar walks again and also venture out into new ones on my own or with friends and family.

To cut a long story short, I was absolutely delighted that I had gone and for me I found a release, acceptance, freedom and strengthening of spirit that I did not think was possible in one day of re-connecting with people and a beautiful natural landscape!

I had spent pockets of time on the day in my own thoughts, listening generously to those that chose to talk, in silence for parts of the walk when I needed, and just taking in the stunning scenery - all very simple...... but for me I felt a mini-transformation had taken place by the end of the walk.

The charity and other professional support I have taken up as and when I needed them have enabled me to regain my Self, start to live, look forward, have fun and take other positive life and wellbeing decisions over the past 2 years. Its not been an 'instant fix' but a gradual return to wholeness.

I have since taken part in other walks with the charity and this June (2024) had the joy, honour and sincere privilege to volunteer at a weekend Retreat in Eryri National Park (Snowdonia).

After some thought I have chosen to commit and follow through on the following from June 2024 to June 2025 for my Project 500 Challenge, a minimum of:

- 50 minutes or more of mindfulness/meditation daily

- 50 hours or more of volunteering over 12 months

- 500 plus miles walked over the 12 months of Project 500

The later is going to be the toughest one for me as I've a home-based desk job! So wish me luck :-)

"Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end" - Scott Adams.

With your help we can move mountains on mental health!

Much love and gratitude

Indy :-)