Stuart's Diary: August - December 2006
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December 20
Hi everyone. Unfortunately the Daily Mail article which was supposed to have appeared by Christmas has not appeared and we are unsure why. The article was going to highlight the One Mans Mountain challenge and hopefully would have brought us the sponsorship we needed.

Myself and the team feel greatly saddened that the article has not appeared in the Daily Mail and we feel very let down. We have lost a huge chance to highlight my climb and the reasons behind it. At the moment we are unable to secure funding for my climb in 2007. Time is running out very fast and we have to confirm with my Sherpas by mid January.

The team and I have been constantly searching for sponsorship and funding but to no avail. I assure everyone though, I/we, will not give up, and if I/we have too, we will head for Everest 2008. My climb is a World 1st and a very pioneering project for mental illness. We always knew it would be tough to find the funding and we have been let down on many occasions this year.

What keep’s me personally striving forwards is all the support and emails and letters i receive from fellow sufferers of mental illness across the world. You are the most important people to me and you 'all' are the reason why i will keep striving forwards. I urge you, as I will, to carry on climbing your own mountains, to reach your own goals, capabilities and dreams. 

As ever you are all within my thoughts. Have a wonderful Christmas and i wish each and everyone of you, good health, happiness and prosperity for 2007.

I will keep you updated. Take care. Stuart.

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10 November
Hi all, just to say, as some of you will know, the daily mail article didn’t appear this week. Not sure why but we have been told it will be appearing very soon. So fingers crossed with that. All the best. Write soon. Stuart. 

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3 November
Hi all, I can’t believe its November. October has passed and I am now 42! Just been for a run which I am enjoying. Good to feel warmed up in the turning weather. Good to feel fitter too. Hopefully next week there will be an article appearing in the 'Daily Mail'. Fingers crossed it will help us with sponsorship.  So look out on Tuesday.

I’m weighing in at 114kg. Diabetic reading is a healthy blood glucose level of 5.6. My levels have stabilised for some time now since the weight is dropping off and fitness is gained. Chocolate intake is still a little to high, the stuff is just too nice!

Sometimes when my mind is racing away I turn to chocolate which seems to help me relax. A comfort thing. I am eating more fruit and more cereal for breakfast and Tesco health living meals for lunch.

I walk for about 20 minutes with 'Beau' in the morning after breakfast. Lunch happens around 2pm and then I go for a run. Have slacked away from ROKO health club recently because of an injured neck; but all is better again now. Will be back at ROKO next week with increased appetite!

Had a great response from my British Medical Journal article. Many emails of support from GP's and medical professionals from around the world sending warm good wishes for all I am trying to achieve.  I just hope I get there. It feels my fate to attempt Everest. I will be stunned if the full finances are not found.

My best wishes and thoughts to you all. Remember to read the' Mail' and keep climbing your own mountains and living your own dreams.

Stuart

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10 October
To read Stuarts World Mental Health day message please click here

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22 September
Hi everyone.  I have just returned from a lovely week in the English Lake District where I spent a week camping at Keswick with Jane and my dog beau.  The weather was lovely and we discovered many wonderful walks. I felt very at home in Keswick, many walkers and many dog lovers and many hills and mountains.

Although the warm weather is now rapidly disappearing, it won’t stop me getting out for treks along the Dorset countryside.  I actually seem to prefer the cold weather over hot weather.  So I will enjoy the winter months especially for walking and training.  This week I have had an article published in the British medical journal which I hope will help all who read it to have a greater understanding of mental illness and the discrimination and stigma we face.  You can find the article on the news section of the website.  Please feel free to leave feedback and comments.

I have to make a plea to all who can help.  The time is coming near for me to confirm my climb but we still do not have the finances secured yet to able me to reach Everest in spring 2007.  We still need to find some more major sponsors to make this climb happen so that I can inspire the 51 million diagnosed cases of schizophrenia across the world and all who suffer with a mental illness.

Please if you can, give generously to my cause and if you know of any business or anyone that may be willing to make a contribution give them a nudge for me.  The importance of my climb is immense. Let’s make it happen for spring 2007.

The best to you all...Stuart

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30 August
Very positive news!  I will be recording 2 radio interviews this week with the BBC; 1 for BBC Radio Solent, a local UK radio station on the south coast, and another for BBC Radio 5 Live, a national UK radio station.  Both offer chances to promote my Everest challenge and talk about my experiences with schizophrenia.

Other good news, I have also written an article for the British medical journal which has been accepted and will appear in the weeks to come.

Have also started talks with 2 literary agents about the story of 'one mans mountain' and my struggle to overcome my illness and get to the 'top of the world'.  Its early days but positive signs, I believe that my story can only help to inspire the world of mental illness including the 51 million diagnosed cases of schizophrenia.

The aim of my book is to shed a new and much needed light on my illness and to fight the stigma and discrimination so unfairly attached to it and to inspire all those diagnosed cases to rise above their own illness to live their own dreams and conquer their own mountains!

Will keep you informed. All the best. Stuart.

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10 August
Am really starting to feel fit now and getting much stronger.  Have recently weighed in at 116kg.  Have got to be monitored soon for my diabetes at my doctor. I feel that the fitter and stronger I get and the more weight I lose the diabetes will eventually disappear altogether.  Still finding it hard to find sponsors but personal letters and emails from fellow sufferers in the UK and around the world keeps me looking forwards with hope.

Still enjoying ROKO health club and feel very comfortable there.  A change from my past.  Often when I was training for my trek to Everest Base Camp in 2003 I felt very paranoid and feared meeting people whilst out walking.

Thankfully that has changed.  I don't mind people now and often look forward to conversation. I wish I could switch on a confidence button to all my fellow sufferers.  With confidence the world looks a much much brighter place...

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