Ever since Hayden discovered the Ten Tors challenge a few years ago, he's dreamed of completing it. This summer, he did in his own way.

Hayden is autistic. Over two days in scorching heat, he hiked 35 miles across Dartmoor completely self-supported: no support crews, no checkpoints, carrying everything he needed on his back. When water ran low, he filtered from streams with a LifeStraw. He learned to navigate, to ration food and water, and to keep going when it got hard. He camped wild under the Milky Way and finished every single mile himself.

He's not doing this for a medal (though he did earn a trophy). He's doing it to raise money for the National Autistic Society, and to show other autistic people that whatever their dream is, whether it's crossing Dartmoor or something completely different, it's worth chasing.

Hayden's participation in the race is not just a personal triumph but a powerful statement about the importance of ensuring equitable access to mental health services for neurodiverse individuals like himself. Living with autism, Hayden understands first-hand the challenges that neurodiverse individuals face, including higher rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. Studies estimate that up to 40% of individuals with autism have at least one anxiety disorder, Hayden has OCD.

Hayden’s mission is clear: to highlight the urgent need for mental health services that cater to neurodiverse populations. "By ensuring neurodiverse individuals receive the care they need, we can improve their quality of life, enhance societal productivity, and promote social justice," Hayden says. "As awareness and diagnosis of neurodiversity continue to increase, it becomes even more important to adapt our mental health services to meet these needs effectively for future generations."

Despite the growing recognition of neurodiversity, there remains a significant 'treatment gap' between those who need mental health care and those who receive it. For neurodiverse individuals, this gap is alarmingly wide due to several barriers:

According to the Nuffield Trust, mental health services are accessed by only around a quarter of people in the community who need them, with neurodiverse individuals being particularly overrepresented within this 'treatment gap'.

Hayden’s message to the new government is a call to action: prioritise mental health funding for neurodiverse individuals to bridge this gap and prevent unnecessary suffering. "I don’t want to see more people suffering when they don't need to," Hayden emphasises.

In addition to his athletic endeavours, Hayden is an active member of his community, tirelessly raising funds and awareness about autism and mental health. He educates others on these critical issues, advocating for a society where everyone, regardless of neurodiversity, has the opportunity to achieve optimal mental health.

Do you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of The National Autistic Society and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause which means so much to me.

More information about The National Autistic Society: Founded in 1962, we are the UK's leading charity for autistic people and their families. Our goal is to help transform lives, change attitudes, and create a society that works for autistic people.