East Coast Everesting Challenge - Riding for Mental Health Awareness

NEW DATES*** In light of the devastating floods that have hit the East Coast of Australia, we have postponed the event to the 1st - 7th of May.

HOBART - Sunday 1/5
VICTORIA - Monday 2/5
CANBERRA - Wednesday 4/5
SYDNEY - Thursday 5/5
BRISBANE - Saturday 7/5

I’m not going to sugar coat it. I’ve gone from losing everything I lived for and reaching rock bottom to becoming who I am now.. Not just becoming, but accepting me for who I am. From battling with poor mental health to becoming someone who gained an enormous amount of confidence and self-empowerment through exercise. This has not only made me happier but also allowed me to open up about my story in the hope of helping others going through similar situations. I don't know where I would be right now if I had not discovered my passions for exercise.


What am I doing and why am I doing it?

Sharing my story of how exercise presented me with a second chance to live after my battles with poor mental health. I’m slogging myself through this challenge to share my story and to promote the incredible benefits exercise can have with overcoming any struggles you may be going through.

I also want you to understand that although you may feel alone, self-conscious, or embarrassed about your personal battles, you are not alone. It’s ok to not be ok. You may not realise but there are more people out there that can relate in some way than you can imagine. Most just keep their issues a secret. We NEED to break the stigma around mental health and make it easier for everyone to start the important conversations. I hope my openness and honesty can help you find that courage to speak up. It ain’t weak to speak.

Even in the last six months, i've been around people who have sadly lost their lives due to their ongoing battles. I can't stand sitting here in silence while so many others suffer behind closed doors.. It doesn't have to be this way.


What am I doing?

Riding my bike… If only it was that easy. What I’m doing is called an Everesting challenge. Climbing a hill of my choice as many times as required to accumulate the elevation of Mount Everest - 8848m. Not just once, but five times. Not just in one city, but in the five state's and territories along the East Coast of Australia, and all in seven days. Never been done before. Can I do it? Not sure, but we will soon find out.

A total of five everesting challenges in seven days. Travelling 2500kms from Hobart to Brisbane. Riding approximately 1100km over 75hours and accumulating more than 44,240m (145,160ft.) of total elevation. Yep, climbing 5x the height of Mount Everest on a bike in seven days.

Seems hard. It definitely is. But not as hard as seeing someone close to you unexpectedly taking their own life. And definitely not as hard as some of the demons we all have to battle with at some point in our lives.

I want to share my story in the hope that you realise that whatever your current situation is where you may think there’s no future or hope, just know there is. There’s always hope. No matter how high that mountain can seem from the bottom, as difficult as it may look, there is always a way to summit.

I'm going to summit the height of five Mt. Everests to show you anything is possible. I'm climbing for all of you out there who are suffering. To prove to you that there is always hope. To show you that everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of fear. We all deserve to live a life full of greatness. Especially you.