Officially, mental illness has been a part of my life for nearly twenty years, but I now know that I’ve suffered from it nearly all of my life.

It all came to a head in 2011 when I was officially diagnosed with Bi-Polar Since that time I have been receiving proper medication and I’m doing better than I have in years but it doesn’t and can’t end there. Many of my family and friends either don’t understand mental illness or it makes them uncomfortable.

That’s where Hike For Mental Health comes in. I was looking for a way to raise awareness of mental illness as well as help to find a cure for it. I discovered HIKE for Mental Health online and contacted them to see if they would be interested in starting an annual hike up Mount Washington in NH to raise money and awareness. That was 2012 and the first hike had 11 hikers. In 2017 over 60 hikers made the hike and raised more than $15,000 for the charity.

Unfortunately, my hiking days are over for physical reasons but the same peace I found in hiking I now find in the knowledge that HIKE for Mental Health is helping to raise awareness and find a cure for this disease that has so deeply affected me and my family.

– Sue Twombley

This article is part of our #hikeOctober campaign to shed light on the stigma of mental illness and to promote the benefits of hiking. 100% of the funds raised from this campaign will be dedicated to alleviating the suffering of mental illness and to wilderness trail conservancy. If you would like to learn more or add you voice to our I #hikeOctober… series, please contact us.