Hi! My name is Kate. I am 18 years old, and I love to hike. My mother was a backcountry ranger, so I learned how to climb mountains with a pack on my back before I learned how to apply makeup. Some of my highest highs have been on wilderness trips.. and my lowest low. It was on a wilderness trip a couple years ago that, I almost took my own life. But, nature kinda saved me.

See, as I stood on that cliff face with all the intention of... ending... The tiny positive part of my brain in the endless personal self worth argument, forced me to stare at my beautiful surroundings. It was then that I fell in love with the world again. With the help of nature, I defeated my demons, and stepped down. Literally. And I'm here.

As long as backpacking has been in my life, depression has followed. And I'm not the only one. Another victim, was my friend. A few months after my night on the cliff, she had an afternoon on the golden gate bridge, and her demons won. Her positive voice in her head wasn't quite strong enough. And I will never be able to physically hug her again. And it will be my biggest regret that I didn't share my story with her. Which is why I am sharing it now.

Major depressive disorder affects approximately 14.8 million American adults and 1 in 8 teenagers. It is easy to brush off depression as people being moody, or unappreciative; but suicide is the second highest cause of death among teenagers in America. According to the World Health Organization, as of 2015, suicide is the #1 global cause of death for adolescent girls for the first time ever. It is time to address Mental Health.

That's why this summer I am solo hiking the john Muir trail for a month on July 7th, to raise money for mental health and suicide prevention. In a dress. Yep, I am hiking 230 miles in a dress because I believe in adDRESSing mental health. What can I say? I love wordplay.

Spending a month in the wilderness alone will be one of the hardest things I've done in my whole life. But I am doing it because I believe in this cause, I believe in the healing power of nature, I believe in my friend, and I believe in me.

If you want to help me adDRESS mental health, please share this video and fundraising link around with the hashtag #dresstoaddressmentalhealth. If you wish to contribute financially then YAY! Thank You!!!

GIFTS OF THANKS!
If you contribute to the campaign, email me your address so that I can send you a "Thank You" card!!

Thanks for reading. Whoever you are- know that you are loved, and YOU are worth it.

Peace out peeps.

Kate