Welshman challenges himself to climb Snowdon carrying 100 kilograms for mental health awareness

  • Wales

Video report by ITV Wales reporter Kate Lewis.

A Monmouth man is aiming to become the first person to climb Snowdon with 100 kilograms on his back, to help raise awareness of mental health conditions.

Tom Burns, 26, says his challenge is intended to "symbolise the weight many people who suffer with mental health feel on their shoulders on a daily basis."

Tom will tackle the 1,085 metre ascent with the weight on his back - equivalent to carrying a 15 stone person all the way to the summit.

He is hoping to raise £5,000 for two mental health charities - the Ted Senior Foundation and Mind.

Tom said: "Around the age of 16, I began to develop feelings of anxiety and a fear of any and every social situation. This led to periods of debilitating depression and suicidal thoughts.

"There was always that voice inside me that held me back that little bit. I'd want to go out, but would always hold myself back.

"Training was the one place I could go to build my confidence. I'd set small goals, I'd achieve them, and that would help me get more confident."

Tom credits training with helping him overcome his own mental health struggles. Credit: Family photograph

Working out helped Tom through some of his darkest moments, and he now wants to help others going through a similar struggle.

To prepare for his challenge, Tom has trained for around 4-5 hours every day for the past six months, on top of eight years of his regular strength training.

As well as weight training, Tom has been jogging, cycling and walking to ensure his body is in peak physical condition - but knows his expedition will depend on his mental strength, as well as physical.

He is setting off from the village of Llanberis at the base of Snowdon at 3am on 14 August, carrying the 100kg on his back in the form of a barbell and weights.

Tom added: "No amount of pain I put my body through will ever compare to the pain a family experiences who have had to deal with a suicide in the family. Too many young men and women take their lives far too young.

"I am completing this challenge to show as many people as possible that transformation from the lowest of all lows is possible."

You can follow Tom's journey by visiting his Facebook page.