A Teesside man is climbing Kilimanjaro in Africa to raise money for charity.
Construction worker Ian Dryden is a suicide survivor who wants to share his story in the hope it increases awareness of a growing issue in the UK and raises money for Samaritans as a thank you for the help they gave him.
Ian will be hiking over 80 kilometres up the highest free standing mountain in the world, and so far has raised over £6500.
The expedition takes months of training and preparation to make it to the mountain top as altitude sickness is a very serious risk.
Suicide is the biggest killer in men under 45 and within construction claims an average of 400 lives a year.
Samaritans report deaths by suicide rose 10.9% in 2018, and men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women.
Tuxtra Reporter Christine Candeland spoke Ian’s to find out more about his story:
There are multiple charities available to help people in need, but statistics show that this is not enough. If you want to support Ian you can find more information on his JustGiving Page.
If you’re affected by any of the issues brought up in this article, you can find help here or alternatively you can call 116 123.
ABOUT ME
Course
Bachelor of the Arts in Journalism
Biography
I have a passion for creating high quality written work about a wide variety of subjects, although my focus for the last few years has been particularly on outdoor sports and lifestyle.
I currently write for ThirtySquare, about the world of surfing and body surfing, and Welan, an outdoor clothing company. With them both, I have fantastic business relations and use my 6 years of experience with outdoor sports to write eloquent, engaging content to maximize their audience. I have a heavy interest in adventure sports, and am aiming to bring that love and passion to the media industry – in the hopes to entertain, educate and to encourage more people to get involved.
Software & Hardware Proficiencies
Employment, Work Experience & Volunteering
For the last five months I have been working as a freelance adventure writer, with a specific focus on surfing and sustainability. During that time I have had the opportunity to work with multiple clients to produce emotional and explanatory pieces that will best suit their audience. Examples of these can be found within my portfolio.
I am also currently volunteering with the media team of UKLSG, the UK Lifeguard Solidarity Group, to create more media coverage about the concerning lack of lifeguarded beaches in the UK due to the coronavirus pandemic – and the impact it will have on both RNLI staff and the public.
