Hi, my name is Adam, and I’m raising funds to create a men’s outdoor mental health retreat.

For most of my life I’ve struggled with my mental health. This wasn’t a short rough patch — it was years of battling my own mind, including spending over a year in a mental health unit. What helped me begin to heal wasn’t a quick fix or a single answer. It was the outdoors.

Being in the mountains. Walking until the noise in my head quietened. Camping, cooking over fire, learning to slow down, and having honest conversations with other men without judgement or pressure to pretend everything was fine. Those experiences gave me space to breathe again, and over time, they gave me my life back.

I now want to create that same space for other men who are struggling — especially those who feel isolated, burnt out, or unsupported by traditional settings.

The aim is to run a men’s outdoor mental health retreat for 5–10 men, set in the mountains. Over several days we’ll hike together, camp, learn basic bushcraft skills, cook meals together, and sit in talking circles — open, honest conversations with no fixing and no judgement. This is not therapy and not a bootcamp. It’s a grounded, supportive space where men can slow down, feel human again, and realise they’re not alone.

To run this retreat safely and properly, I need to raise funds for essential equipment, food, safety and first aid gear, campsite or wild camping permissions, insurance, and a vehicle large enough to transport people, equipment, and supplies into the mountains. The vehicle isn’t about comfort — it’s what makes the retreat possible and helps keep future retreats affordable or free for those who need them most.

I’ll also be setting up dedicated social media pages for this project, where I’ll share regular updates, progress, planning, and behind-the-scenes steps as this builds. I want this to be as open and transparent as possible so people can see exactly how their support is helping turn this into something real.

I haven’t settled on a name for the project yet and I’m open to ideas — if you donate and have a name in mind, I’d genuinely love to hear it. This feels like something that should be built with people, not just funded by them.

If you’ve ever struggled yourself, lost someone, or believe men deserve spaces like this, your support truly means a lot. And if you’re not in a position to donate, please consider sharing this with others — it helps more than you might realise.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

— Adam