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

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.

Sir Chris Bonington, Britain’s best loved and admired mountaineer, seems to think so! He’ll be leading one of three sponsored walks in the area on Saturday 14th May to raise money for the Campaign for National Parks.

All the walks begin and end at Derwent Bank, an idyllic country house on the shores of Derwentwater, and Sir Chris will be leading a tour of the Grisedale Horseshoe which is a challenging 9 mile walk and open to just 25 people.

Sir Chris Bonington

In his own words, the route is ” better than Everest with some of the most lovely views you will get anywhere in the world”. For the less experienced walker there is also a moderate 6 mile walk and an easy 3 mile walk which is suitable for all ages and abilities.

Bordered by woods and towering crags, Derwentwater is sometimes called the ‘Queen of the Lakes’, and is surrounded by some of the most gorgeous scenery in the Lake District. If you missed out on one of the 25 places on the Grisedale Horseshoe walk, then dont’ worry, all the walkers will still have a chance to rest their feet after the challenge and take afternoon tea with Sir Chris.

The walks are open to everyone but numbers are limited and you must register to take part, so get in there quick! See www.cnp.org.uk for more details or email liz@cnp.org.uk or call 020 7924 4077 ext 223.

Volunteer rescue teams have been tearing their hair out for some time about the rising numbers of inexperienced and ill equipped walkers requiring help.

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Just came back from the most fantastic weekend at the Outdoors Show at the Birmingham NEC. Attended two amazing talks by Joe Simpson (yes THAT guy from Touching the Void), and Ben Fogle and James Cracknell who told the tale of their rollercoaster relationship from when they first rowed the Atlantic together, to their most recent Antarctic expedition.

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