爱豆传媒

Hannah Ray, a 23-year-old PhD student of Exercise Physiology, suffered a breakdown last year and she believes support from friends and relatives, plus regular exercise, helped her recover quicker than had she used medication.

And on 5 May, she will be joining celebrities in a 50km trek, climbing the four highest peaks in the Lake District, to increase awareness and raise £50,000 for MIND, which provides advice and support and campaigns to improve mental health services.

Two teams of 24 will go head-to-head to complete a non-stop 14-hour trek and Hannah will be joining TV presenters Anna Williamson, Denise Welch, and Gail Porter, and newsreader Emma Crosby. The teams currently are £14,000 short of their target.

Hannah spoke frankly of why she is joining the trek: “Last year I suffered a nervous breakdown and developed bipolar. Being a student of physiology, I have a good understanding of how the human body works but I couldn't understand why my mind and body were attacking me with constant anxiety, skin crawling and heart racing.

“I could no longer function let alone study toward my PhD or exercise. I hated who I had become.”

Her recovery, she said, was the “hardest and most exhausting” fight but added: “With the love, support and help from my family, friends, PhD supervisors and a few influential people, I am back on track. She praised her course supervisors Dr Louisa Beale, and lecturers Dr Jeanne Dekerle and Dr Gary Brickley for their “incredible support”.

She said: “My PhD is back studies are also on track and I am working toward my British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) certified exercise practitioner status and hoping to present at the 2015 School of Sport and Service Management exhibition.

“I've finally found my place in this world. I am learning every day and some days are harder than others. Exercise is the best drug I've ever taken, I run 50km per week with my best friend and teach my group fitness classes which help me a lot.

“I wish I had of known about MIND when I was at my lowest. When I saw that MIND was recruiting for participants, I applied, not thinking I'd get anywhere. I see their challenge as an opportunity to raise a significant amount of money to a very deserving charity.

“I also see it as an opportunity to inspire people who have been or are in the same dark place as I was or who suffer from any mental health problem. Laying myself so bare out there has been the scariest thing I have ever done but if I can encourage even just one person to not give up, then this is all worth it.”