Hiking is an incredible activity that allows us to explore nature whilst challenging ourselves physically and mentally. But what happens when we combine this activity with a task of raising money for charity? Well, you get an unforgettable experience that not only benefits others but also brings a huge sense of accomplishment and purpose.
The challenge was simple: hike for 24 hours straight, this I hoped would encourage people to donate and help me raise £1,000 for Head Up, a military mental health charity.
On March 11th at 10am I began hiking the highest point in South Wales and didn't stop again until March 12th at 10am.
Here's how it went...
On the morning of the hike i was both excited and riddled with nerves. I sat indulging in a rather large breakfast and couldn't help but think about the challenge i was about to begin, this was made more stressful with the pressures of fundraising for charity, However i felt that i had prepared well and had a good support system in place.
One thing you can never truly prepare for though - the weather!
After breakfast i packed up and made my way to the start point with my support team.
We started at 10 am, just as the clouds came in, the snow began and the wind picked up i made my first accent up the long winding track into the mist above.
As we breached the initial incline, we lost the cover of the hills that surrounded us and where met with severe gusts of wind and snow. It was clear we couldn't stay there for long.
We quickly summited and made our way back down to the start. The first climb up and down was 67 mins.
The weather conditions seamed to worsen very fast and after my third trip to the summit i had to change into cold weather trousers, ditch the trail running shoes and opt for bottled drinks as my hydration pack had frozen over.
I took short breaks every few hours to get dry and refuel, but for the most part kept moving forward. The hours seemed to blend together as i hiked through the day and finished my 5th climb before darkness fell.
At around 10pm, we reached the halfway point and began to take slightly longer breaks to rest and recharge. It was a surreal experience, sitting in the middle of the night surrounded by my support team, cold, wet, hungry and tired but full of motivation to push on and show people that sometimes when times are tough and you feel like there's no way out, all you need is a good support system in place and a positive attitude.
I continued to hike through the night guided only by headlamps and the stars above. By the time the sun began to rise i had completed 8 summits.
My body was now in a lot of pain and i was struggling for energy but there was only a few hours left to push. After changing into a warm set of dry clothes and fuelling up i tackled no. 9 and a little after 8am set off for my 10th and final summit.
I was feeling a little more energized and determined to finish strong. The last few km's were tough but the thought of the impact i was making kept me moving. At 10am i made my way back to the start point (with bagpipes playing).
I was exhausted but extremely happy. It was one of my toughest challenges I've ever conducted. By the Sunday morning i had completed a total of 10 climbs, walked 95,000 steps, 62km (38.5 miles) and burned over 15,000 calories.
More importantly though i had raised over £4,500 for Head Up, 4.5x my initial target.
The experience of hiking continuously for 24 hours to raise money for charity was truly unforgettable. It was a testament to the power of your mindset even in the toughest conditions and the importance of giving back and helping those who need it most.
This challenge was a representation of the mental struggles we battle on daily basis, no matter how low you feel remember this:
Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle, thought or feeling.
Jack Duncan
20.03.2023
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