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Help Daz Hike To Everest Basecamp For YoungMinds

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My name is Daz and from a young age I’ve spent my life dealing with mental health issues and have recently learnt about the amazing work the charity YoungMinds is doing to help so many young people dealing with mental health issues.From the rise of social media and cyber bullying to the stress of school exams, there's no doubt that today's young people have a lot to deal with as their bodies change and their hormones surge. 

EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide! It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society.

A straight-A pupil Daniel Long, 15 took his own life while revising for his GCSEs - becoming one of a rising number of teenagers doing the same across the UK.  He was found by his mum, hanged in his bedroom and had became extremely stressed about his GCSE exams in the weeks before his death. 

Rachael Warburton's 12-year-old daughter Jessica Scatterson listed six reasons why she wanted to die before she was found hanged at her home in Bewsey, near Warrington. She had also posted a picture showing RIP written on her foot on social media, and had named an alleged school bully.
YoungMinds rely on generous donations to support young people struggling with their mental health with the following terrifying statistics:

• 1 in 6 children aged 5-16 are likely to have a mental health problem

• 50% of all mental health problems start by the age of 14

• 75% of young people with mental health problems aren't getting the help they need

• Suicide is the third leading cause of death in 15-19 year-olds.

• The consequences of not addressing adolescent mental health conditions means they extend into adulthood and limit opportunities to lead fulfilling lives.


My life changed dramatically when I found actual help for my condition, but it’s so upsetting that there is little help or focus for younger people. It’s truly heartbreaking that during the early stages of life, so many young people are having to suffer in silence with something that really takes a toll on relationships and work performance later in life.

When effectively being punished for having time off due to mental health issues, I made the decision to be even more open and help raise awareness and understanding for others struggling with their mental heath.

It was then whilst watching the film Everest, I realised I wanted to do something as impossible as getting to Everest Basecamp to Raise Money For YoungMinds.

It’s so difficult for younger people to get the support and understanding they need when dealing with any kind of mental health struggle. This is why I am taking on such a ridiculously impossible challenge to not only raise the money for YoungMinds, but also as an example of how anything can be achieved, despite the enormity of how it appears, which can be huge at a young age.

Having kids myself, I’m truly worried about them dealing with any kind of mental health issues and want to live as a good example of how we can be open about any struggles we may have and how talking about things can really help.

It can seem so impossible when you’re young and that’s why I am doing this challenge. Hopefully by raising awareness as well as money for the incredible of YoungMinds, we can all help together to prevent more heartbreaking stories like those of Daniel and Jessica.

For me, hiking up a mountain is the maddest thing ever, so doing this will show that despite any difficulties and what appears to be something impossible, we can actually take on anything.

So in March 2022, I will be travelling to Nepal and taking on a 17 day hike to Everest Basecamp and then continue up to Kala Patthar, which sits at an altitude of 5,650m.


At this elevation the oxygen is only 50% of what it is at sea level, so any form of activity will be immensely difficult and even more so for me, with my general poor fitness as well as having asthma. I will also be camping at Everest Basecamp, where temperatures plummet to -20 Celsius.

I am so unfit and overweight that I've chosen to do something that’s way outside my comfort zone, as an example that anyone can change things and you can achieve anything you want.

Having lived with mental health issues since childhood, I saw this as a perfect opportunity to not only increase awareness of the great work YoungMinds are doing, but also raise as much money as I can for them.

So to enable YoungMinds to receive more funds, I have chosen the target in pounds to be the altitude in metres that I will reach.

So how can you make a huge difference to so many young people and be the real hero in this story? It’s very easy...

Simply donate what you can, as everything will help.

But as an example, if just 565 people are able to give as little as £10 each (which is less than the cost of a large Gin & Tonic),

You will help me reach the target, but more importantly, YoungMinds will be able to make such a difference with a mountainous donation!


More Information On The Amazing Work That YoungMinds Is Doing Can Be Found Here: https://youngminds.org.uk

Organizer

Daz Baldwin
Organizer
England

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