18-year-old Ioan treks to Everest Base Camp for Shout

Ioan completed the Everest Base Camp trek for Shout in March this year, after months of training hard, running in marathons and other events to prepare for such an incredible but challenging trip.

Ioan raised £4,277 for the Shout service - enough to cover the cost of 427 conversations with people who are struggling with their mental health.

He shared highlights and photos from the trip along with his top fundraising tip.

Why did you decide to fundraise for Shout?

I know many people close to myself that have suffered from mental health troubles and at times the right help was not available. I chose to fundraise for Shout because of the incredible work they do. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are there for anyone who may need their service.

What was the highlight of your trip?

Getting to speak to the locals and understanding their daily lives.

Were there any harder moments?

I would say that the altitude did affect me a bit. The inclines in the trek are short, but incredibly steep and it takes a lot out of you. Also, it was my first time being away from home for so long.

Do you have a top tip for fundraising?

Get all your family and friends together and hold something like a cheese and wine night. We did this and it was a massive success. I also created leaflets to promote my fundraiser and stuck them up in local shops, at school and gave them out to people. My sixth form did a cake stall to raise money and supported me every step of the way.

How did it feel knowing you had the support of so many people in your community behind you?

It felt great knowing I had so much support. All my family and friends were incredibly supportive and were also very generous with helping me fundraise.

Want to challenge yourself to climb to Everest Base Camp for Shout? Click here for more information and to sign up for the same trip Ioan has just been on.