_Community Stories: Ed Jennings cycles up Mount Everest

Climbing the world’s highest mountain is often considered one of the most adventurous yet dangerous pursuits in the world, requiring months of intense preparation with only a handful of individuals reaching the tallest point on the planet. With no oxygen, gloves or Kathmandu supplies, Ed climbed the 8,848-meter elevation by cycling up and down a single 1.1km hill on his bicycle, 137 times, covering a total distance of 315km with 9,117 meters of vertical ascent in 18 hours.

He is now one of 6,241 people in the ‘Everesting Hall of Fame’ who have conquered the infamous peak by either cycling or running up and down a single hill, all in the name of mental health. After being inspired by the story of a close friend, Ed became acquainted with Sport in Mind, a charity which supports those suffering from mental health issues through the power of sport, and decided to take on the unique challenge, raising nearly seven times his target amount in the process.

Ed shares with us more on this experience and how it has spurred him onto found his own group called The Lung Club. 

Why is this charity so close to your heart? 

I raised money for Sport in Mind because a good friend from university recently lost his dad when he took his own life. It’s a truly tragic story and highlights how mental health illnesses do not discriminate, they can affect anyone at any time. 

Please tell us a little about how you have gone above and beyond here

All I’m doing is raising awareness by starting honest conversations. I feel really passionately that mental health is still not talked about enough. We seem to be capable of flattening the COVID-19 curve yet struggling massively to flatten the suicide curve. The World Health Organisation has stated that by 2030, depression will be the number one global health issue and suicide the most likely cause of death. To put things in perspective, so far COVID-19 has killed 316,000 people since December 2019. In the same period, there have been approximately 330,000 suicides.

As a male under the age of 40, I’m considered to be in a high-risk suicide group. I want to help by talking openly and honestly about my experiences so that people feel they can do the same. I certainly don’t have all the answers, but as a simple starting point, I can combine my own passion for endurance sports and personal mental health journey to raise awareness and reduce the stigma around mental health illnesses.

What do you think is the value of volunteerism? To volunteers, communities and companies

Doing something for others is proven to do wonders for your own wellbeing. In fact, I recently read a book called ‘The Resilience Project’ which really emphasises this - by investing ourselves in other people, you do wonders for your own wellbeing. 

As for companies, in a world where productivity is king, it baffles me that more importance is not placed on mental health. Arriving at work (physically or virtually) feeling relaxed, confident and ready to take on the day will do a whole lot more for productivity.

What impact did this have on you as an individual and your community? 

We are more connected than ever and yet people feel more alone. How is this happening? How many times a day does someone ask you, “How’s it going?” 99% of the time the response is positive. Yet there’s no way that is the case. 

We need to understand that it is okay to not feel your best every day! Being honest with someone instantly creates a connection that you cannot establish easily. When you show people vulnerability, it is amazing how many people start to open about their own journeys. The more we do this through communities, the stronger we will all be.

Do you have any future volunteering plans? 

When it comes to mental health, I’m just getting started! I’m planning on doing more crazy events but more importantly, talking much more about mental health through Lung Club and trying to reduce the stigma that surrounds it. Everyone is battling something so the more we are open and talk about it, the more we realise we’re not alone. As well as open conversation, Lung Club’s potion of choice to fight against those battles  we all face is exercise, whether it be going for a walk or climbing Everest, we believe you can “train the lungs to help the mind”. 

To read more about the Everesting Challenge visit here and check out the Lung Club here or follow on Instagram at lung_club.