‘I saw first-hand the value of educating people about bipolar’

I was inspired to fundraise for Bipolar UK after living with my mum Nicky, who has had the condition since she was 18. I’ve seen how the difficulties affect her day-to-day life, and how it can affect her relationship with others.

I wanted to fundraise for the charity that gives support to those who struggle.

I chose to abseil down the National Lift Tower in Northampton as this was something I’d always wanted to try since I was younger. I knew if I did, I wanted to do it for a good cause!

It was great to fundraise with others

On the day, I got to the National Lift Tower at 11 o clock. I was quite nervous due to the weather conditions as it was windy on the day but luckily, I could abseil down the inside of the tower.

I did the challenge alongside other people fundraising for different causes. It was nice to know that everyone was supporting a charity they cared about.

The highlight was afterwards when I went outside to see all my friends and family (including my mum). They all cheered as I came out.

After completing the abseil, I felt proud and accomplished. Knowing how much money I had raised for something close to mine and my families’ hearts made the whole experience so much better.

The importance of education

Raising money for Bipolar UK means so much to me because I see first-hand how the charity supports someone who has bipolar. My mum goes to a Bipolar UK support group and found it beneficial and interesting hearing other people’s stories. This made her feel a bit better knowing she isn’t the only one having bad experiences. She also uses the Mood Tracker App on her phone to try and see what triggers her episodes.

I myself attend the yearly webinars on World Bipolar Day and listen to the guest speakers to get a better understanding of the condition and how I can help.

The charity plays an important role educating people who might struggle to understand the complications. Family and friends can educate themselves on bipolar disorder and this can help them better support their loved ones.

If anyone is considering fundraising for Bipolar UK I would 1000% encourage you to go for it.

The reward of knowing you can make a difference to the charity and the people they support is always worth the effort put into the fundraiser.