Fresh Air Fix

In this Q&A, I chat to Sarah Maliphant from ‘More To…’ about her inspiring career change from IT consultancy and marketing to working as Mountain Guide and professional Coach, and get some tips on how to you can make the leap too. Read the full story

Did you know that in the UK you are never more than 70 miles from the coast? In this inspirational guest blog from adventurer and expedition expert Tim Moss, he sets himself the challenge to run non-stop from his London home all the way to Southend on Sea.

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Life too busy for scaling peaks and crossing oceans? Well there’s always time for a microadventure. Alastair Humphreys, professional adventurer (yes that job title really does exist!), author and photographer, shows us how it’s done.

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It’s the biggest mountain festival of its kind in the world, and at the heart of the event is the international Film Festival which takes place from 17th to 20th November.

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I first met Gemma Grant who works for Surrey Wildlife Trust, on a guided foraging walk. It was clear from the start what a huge passion she has for her job, so I wanted to find out more about life as a forest ranger and what it takes to become one.

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In the latest of our ‘Introducing…’ series, meet Charlie Wardle who set up his own outdoors charity, Climb Your Mountain. to help others going through tough times. 

So tell us a bit more about the charity, when did you set it up and what does it offer?

I set the charity up in April 2008 as a result of my own experiences with stress and depression, and using physical activities and challenges to help me through some difficult times. I held a very senior position as a Finance Director of a large global publishing company prior to setting up the charity and working full time as head of CYM… so the decision to set up CYM was a huge change in career!

The charity aims to help anyone going through a difficult period in their life where they feel they have their own personal mountain to climb. CYM provides people with opportunities to get fitter and healthier, both physically and mentally, take part in a wide range of activities and courses, meet new people, go to new places and a real sense of achievement.

Where are you based and what do you love most about the area?

CYM is based in Milton Keynes but many of the activities are all across the UK and the large fundraising trips are overseas. We offer running, walking, cycling, fitness classes and hiking in the Milton Keynes area plus many hikes and weekend trips to places like Snowdon, Ben Nevis, Lake District, Cotswolds, Chilterns, Malvern Hills, Peak District, etc.

What’s the best thing about your job?

Seeing people take advantage of the opportunities that CYM offers and therefore make a real positive difference to their lives…. especially seeing people do things that they would never have dreamt of doing like climbing Snowdon and having the best weekend of their lives!

Why do you think it’s important for people to spend time in the great outdoors?

The outdoors offers so much…. with CYM activities you meet new people, see new places, get fitter, achieve things and being outdoors in the countryside lifts your mood and helps improve your confidence as well as your physical and mental health.

www.climbyourmountain.org

Know a person or a great little outdoors business that should be profiled in this series? Let me know in the comments section below and I’ll be in touch.

Held in Fort William and Lochaber, the Outdoor Capital of the UK from Friday 11 to Monday 15 February 2011, this festival is a five day feast of lectures, workshops and films for anyone who want to celebrate mountain culture; during the best winter walking and climbing conditions of the year.

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Check out this video featuring stunts performed by Scottish biker Danny MacAskill, 23, who became an internet sensation when his film received over 2.5 million views in the week it was posted.

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A study has revealed that shows that whilst three quarters of us like the outdoors, huge numbers have never tried simple outdoor activites such as standing on a mountain (40%), riding a horse (50%) or swimming in natural water (41%).

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