3 Years, 3 Peaks , For My Dad

I didn’t expect to lose a parent at 30 years old. I don’t think anyone ever truly prepares for that kind of loss. My dad, Mike John Diamond, passed away on the 18th of June. He was more than my dad, he was my best friend, honestly he was my world. A genius, a poet, an artist, and a daydreamer who saw the world through a beautiful, unique lens.

Losing him to an aortic dissection shattered my world. The pain was raw, and the grief felt endless. There’s no manual for how to navigate losing someone, no timeline for when it gets easier. Some days, it still feels like it happened yesterday. Some nights, I’m haunted by what-ifs and memories that flood in when I least expect them.

But in the depths of that pain, I’ve come to realise something powerful grief doesn’t just break us, it can also build us. It can fuel a purpose bigger than ourselves. Three years on, I’m beginning to find a way to honour my dad’s memory by turning this heartache into action.

This year, I’m taking on the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge for 3 years of his passing, climbing Pen-y-ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough — for my dad.

Aortic dissection is a cruel and little-known condition. It’s a sudden tear in the aorta, the body’s main artery, and it can be fatal if not caught quickly. Despite its seriousness, awareness remains incredibly low, and the charity I’m supporting is small but fiercely committed to changing that — raising awareness, supporting families, and funding vital research.

I don’t expect to raise huge sums with this first event, but it’s just the beginning. I plan on now doing many events to raise awareness. It’s the first of many steps I’ll take to keep his spirit alive and make a difference in his name.

This is deeply personal — three peaks, three years without him.

Every step I do it with him in my heart.

If you’re able to donate, no matter how small, it would mean the world not just to me, but to everyone affected by this devastating condition.

Thank you for being here, for listening, and for supporting me on this journey.