Mental health problems are an increasing issue in today’s society, with one in four of us experiencing some form of mental health issue at some point in our lives. I have personally encountered these issues among friends and family and in the wider community and would like some way to help. On Christmas Day I plan to climb Croagh Patrick wearing only shorts and boots to raise money for 3Ts and A Lust for life.
During my wife’s illness I was under a lot of stress and I was looking for ways to cope. I discovered the Wim Hof Method and signed up for the 10 week online course which involved breathing practices, cold showers and stretching. I found that the breathing exercises calmed me down and while I found the cold showers a challenge I felt great after them so I continued the process. In 2016 I went to Wim Hof’s advanced workshop in Holland and in November 2017 I spent time in Poland undergoing further studies and training to become a certified Wim Hof Instructor. Since then I have conducted my own workshops with a wide range of participants. I really enjoy giving the classes and get great satisfaction in sharing the skills and tools that I have learned.
There are a number of charities working hard to let people know that during a difficult period there is support out there and someone to talk to. These charities need our support as they are vital in tackling this issue. I want to raise at least €1000 to be shared between 3Ts and A Lust for Life while at the same time raising awareness of these charities through my social media channels.
Update: I am delighted to say that I raised over €1000 for each of the charities, thank you to all who donated.
The following photos show some of my training in preparation for the challenge.
