A Kendal man will attempt to run up 47 Welsh mountain summits this weekend to raise money for a mental health charity.
Dan Beaumont, who grew up in Sandylands and went to Queen Katherine School, is tackling one of the most challenging of the classic fell running circuits. It is over 100km long and only a few people have been able to complete it in the target 24 hours non-stop.
The route, known as the Paddy Buckley Round, involves a total climb of 8,700 metres. It takes in the summit of Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales along with the best-known peaks of northern Snowdonia.
Dan, who completed the Lake District’s Bob Graham Round last year, wants to finish all four of the UK’s classic fell-running endurance tests.
He says the sport helps him manage his own mental health and he wants to assist others in the process. His fundraiser is part of a much bigger project to help provide support for more people in the north west.
The charity Mind Over Mountains organises walks and weekend retreats in national parks. Not only is walking and talking in nature itself therapeutic, every walk includes mindfulness sessions and the walkers are accompanied by qualified coaches and counsellors.
Dan said: “Ever since I was a kid in Cumbria, the great outdoors has played a precious role in my life. In my darkest moments, nature and the mountains have been my refuge.
“As I’ve grown older, my affinity to nature has only strengthened, developing into a deep passion for mountain running. Now I am using the great outdoors to build resilience, navigate challenges in life and better manage my own mental and physical well-being.”
Mind Over Mountains is aiming to raise £500,000 to help meet the growing demand for mental health services in the North West.
The charity is increasingly working with social prescribing link workers, who are based within primary care networks such as GP practices. Patients can then qualify for free or heavily subsided places on walks and retreats, funded by the charity.
“Evidence consistently shows a positive relationship between spending time in nature or exposure to nature and good health and wellbeing.” says the charity’s chief executive Ian Sansbury.
“Our ambition is to make nature- and activity-based responses to wellbeing the norm in mental health care and support.”
You can sponsor Dan by visiting his JustGiving page.
