A record-breaking attempt to scale every major peak in the British Isles reaches Helvellyn next week.
Simon Tull, a financial administrator and keen hillwalker, took four months away from his desk to scale more than 120 summits raising money for mental health charities.
He set off in April with the aim of conquering the 121 mountains in 121 days – but he is now weeks ahead of schedule and is set to more than halve the previous record.
After also tackling Scafell Pike, Skiddaw and Cross Fell, the 40-year-old Cumbrian says goodbye to his home county this week to take on the peaks of the Isle of Man and Wales.
When he makes his final ascent of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) next Saturday, July 26, he will have completed the equivalent of 12 times the height of Everest or 33 of the toughest marathons.
“I’ve pushed myself harder than I ever thought possible – not just for personal bests, but to shine a spotlight on mental health and suicide prevention,” he said.
“I chose to support two charities involved with mental well-being, the locally-based Every Life Matters and Mind Over Mountains. This is a cause that resonates with me, having lost family members to suicide and seen loved ones struggle to live with their mental illnesses.”
Mind Over Mountains is a national charity organising walks and weekend wellbeing retreats in the Lake District and other national parks. In addition to the recognised therapeutic effect of being in the great outdoors, participants are accompanied by trained counsellors and coaches who walk, talk and – most importantly – listen.
Every Life Matters is a Cumbrian-based suicide prevention charity offering free training and bereavement support across the county.
Simon, who grew up in Hampshire and now lives in Penrith, had been planning what he calls a ‘real mountain challenge’ since 2018. He had been through an incredibly low period in his life during the previous years and knew he needed to feed his sense of adventure as a way of motivating his own mental wellbeing.
“It was not long since I’d been close to contemplating suicide. I was in a proverbial valley and if things didn’t change, then I’m not sure that I’d reach the summit,” he added.
Last year his employers at Paragon Bank Business Finance agreed for him to relocate to the Lake District, where training would be easier. His bosses then allowed him a four-month sabbatical to take on the intrepid adventure. Colleagues and friends from Paragon will be joining him on the final climb at the weekend.
The record-breaking ascent of Britain and Ireland’s most prominent peaks is called the P600 Challenge because every summit rises at least 600 metres of prominence above its surroundings.
Only a handful of people have ever completed the full list. The most recent was Liam Chase from Norfolk who set out to complete the 121 peaks in a calendar year and managed to do it in 313 days. Simon is on course to knock 220 days off that record.
Alex Staniforth, the founder of Mind Over Mountains, said: “Simon’s achievement is simply phenomenal – physically, mentally, and emotionally. As someone who deeply understands how nature can heal, I am so inspired by his determination to support our charity and elevate mental health awareness.”
Simon set out by climbing Log na Coille in County Wicklow on April 25 and his route has taken him to the highest point of every part of the British Isles.
He has scaled Carrauntoohil in the Republic of Ireland (1,039m), Slieve Donald in Northern Ireland (850m) and Ben Nevis in Scotland (1,345m).
The final week then includes Scafell Pike (978m) and Snaefel (Isle of Man, 621m). He then finishes with an ascent of Yr Wyddfa, the highest mountain in Wales (Snowdon) at 1,085m.
Chris Wood, CEO and co-founder of Every Life Matters said: “We are overwhelmed, and hugely thankful, for Simon’s fundraising efforts.
“We rely on continued support from our local community and the funds they have raised will help us to continue supporting individuals and families across Cumbria bereaved by suicide, one of the most traumatic forms of loss.
“Their very generous fundraising also helps us continue to carry out training, awareness raising and campaigning, as well as our Suicide Safer Schools programme teaching pupils, staff and parents about suicide prevention.”
