Man to carry 100lbs for 100km on New Year's Eve to raise money for mental health charity

Emmet Meehan has been training for the challenge for three months, but believes it is his mindset that will either make or break him. Credit: University of Exeter

A 23-year-old Exeter graduate is taking on a mammoth challenge on New Year's Eve - all in aid for children and young people's mental health.

Emmet Meehan will be setting off at 7am on 31 December with the aim of walking 100km non-stop while carrying 100lbs, in a bid to raise money for the charity YoungMinds.

YoungMinds hopes to ensure every young person in the UK has access to mental health support if they need it.

Emmet said: "I like putting myself out of my comfort zone and I like a challenge.

"I thought the theme of carrying something heavy for a long time really fit with YoungMinds message of every young person in the UK having mental health support, as they're carrying something even heavier for an even longer period of time.

"So, it's a nod to what people go through and maybe a reminder that it's about taking those little steps consistently and focusing on the process of it, rather than the daunting end goal, which can seem months away."

Emmet has been undergoing a regimented training regime to prepare for the challenge in the past three months, and says he has incrementally increased the weight and distance to prepare his body for the single-stage ultramarathon.

The MSc Sports Management graduate believes his degree has also helped him prepare, but he recognises that carrying such a heavy load - about the same weight as a fridge - will put his ankles, knees and hips at serious risk.

He said: "I've just finished my Masters degree and I thought now would be a perfect opportunity to show what my sports science background can do, in terms of preparing your body for extreme challenges and that."

Emmet Meehan has already exceeded his goal on his fundraiser. Credit: Emmet Meehan

He will begin the challenge early on 31 December to maximise daylight hours but will walk continuously through the night and estimates he will finish in London around midday the following year - on 1 January. Although walking alone, he will have a support team and friendly faces at regular intervals.

Emmet also faces having to manage his energy levels, fatigue and sleep deprivation.

But he believes the biggest challenge will not be keeping his body going, but ensuring his mind is prepared to endure long periods of pain.

He told ITV West Country: "You can be as physically prepared as you want, but you have to be patient. It's going to take 30 hours, it's going to be a long time of me being in pain, so you just have to be very prepared to sit in the 'pain cave' for a long period of time.

"I'm not trying to be the quickest, I'm just trying to slow down the least. So, it's about just keep moving. If I can take one more step now, then I'll just think about taking the next step and I'll get there eventually."

Emmet: 'I want to spread the message that mental toughness is a mindset - everybody can do it'

Emmet says he is a "young guy" and felt his past influenced his decision to choose YoungMinds as the charity to support.

"Especially when I was growing up, you know around underprivileged areas, and I didn't particularly have a lot of support when I was growing up", he said.

"I was around a lot of people who were struggling with their mental health and didn't get the help they needed. And I was very aware of how detrimental an effect it has on people, essentially. I think 'leaving it' can make people go rapidly downhill, in so many ways and I've seen it so many different, sort of manifestations of different issues.

"I really support what YoungMinds are doing and I support the whole 'end the stigma thing', get young people to talk about stuff, just so that we can create stronger adults really."

He hopes his challenge will spread a message of "perseverance" and encourage others to develop "mental toughness", which he describes as your mind being resilient to the forces going on around you.

"I think I just want to spread that message of: It's a mindset, being able to build that resilience and everyone can do it. I've spent only 12 weeks - in the grand scheme, that's not a long time - to build that physical resilience, but that mental resilience you can start building every day.

"You don't have to do 30km on the road with 100lbs or 100kms. It starts today, building that resilience in your mind really."

YoungMinds: 'We can create a world where no young person feels alone'

Julia Garden, Community Engagement Officer at YoungMinds, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled that Emmet has chosen to support YoungMinds with his amazing challenge. With Emmet’s help we can create a world where no young person feels alone with their mental health. We really value his support.”

After taking on an ultramarathon, Emmet will be putting down the 100lbs, but he won't be slowing down. The 23-year-old plans to take on a firefighting course the next day, which he plans to do alongside running his own business.

Emmet's donation's page for the challenge can be found here.