20 Mile Edale Skyline Solo Hike in aid of Nacoa

I will be completing the Edale Skyline Hike solo at the start of October 2024*, this is a 20 mile hike around the Peak District. I have done all of these Peaks separately, but never in one go!

My mum Cheryl passed away suddenly in March at just 58.

My mum was creative, she instilled my love of reading and she was an amazing cook. She enjoyed gardening, spending time with family and in the past had gone back to study when we were grown up. My mum was also alcohol dependant.

When my mum was alive, there were times when in my despair I thought of her as selfish, but now she's not here I understand this was an illness. It was a coping mechanism for her depression and now I feel overwhelming compassion and sadness for her. Trying to understand why she did it is really important to me in helping me to grieve.

I wanted something positive to come out of this awful situation by raising money to help others.

The stigma around drinking still exists resulting in many children of alcoholics hiding it and pretending things are okay. There are a lot of conflicted feelings you have to deal with. There are feelings of despair that this is happening, hope that things will change, loneliness at not being able to speak up, and love for that person, despite their addiction.

I'm raising money in aid of Nacoa (National Association for Children of Alcoholics) and every little donation will help.

This is a cause that is extremely close to my heart. I have seen and experienced first hand the devastation and destruction alcohol can do, and my heart goes out to anyone going through this. Nacoa have been amazing in helping me trying to process what I am feeling and have always been there with advice and support.

More information about Nacoa (National Association for Children of Alcoholics):

The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (Nacoa) is a registered charity (No. 1009143), founded in 1990 to address the needs of children growing up in families where one or both parents suffer from alcoholism or a similar addictive problem. This includes children of all ages, many of whose problems only become apparent in adulthood.

*date not been shared due to solo nature of hike and wanting to stay safe at all times