Mental health campaigner completes cheesy charity challenge

A mental health sufferer-turned-campaigner from North Yorkshire has completed his latest charity challenge by lugging a giant cheese for 20 miles through the rolling landscape of the Yorkshire Dales.

Striding out at 5am on Saturday 16 December, Ryan Iveson carried the whopping 10-kilo wheel of Wensleydale’s finest export through the stunning countryside around his home town of Hawes.

Entitled ‘Ryan’s Wensleydale Whey’, Mr. Iveson’s undertook his ‘crackers’ long-distance trek to raise funds for The Principle Trust, which provides respite breaks for children who are underprivileged, disadvantaged, disabled, have life-limiting conditions, or who have experienced poverty, trauma or abuse.

Taking eight hours to complete, Ryan’s route took in some of The Dales’ most picturesque landmarks including Aisgil Force, Countersett, Semerwater, Bainbridge, Stags Fell and Hardraw Force.

So far, the dairy-based dare has raised over £600 for the Trust’s current campaign to raise £12,000 for the refurbishment of two of its accessible holiday lodges.

The punishing, long-distance yomp was the latest in a series of personal challenges Mr. Iveson has completed as part of his ongoing recovery from a breakdown.

Last Christmas Day the plucky thirty-two-year-old donned a Santa suit before scaling the Yorkshire Three Peaks, raising thousands of pounds for the Trust.

Ryan’s lifelong battle with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) escalated when aged nine, he lost his father in a tragic accident. Like many young men, he struggled to talk about his emotions and his later teenage years spiralled out of control, leading to alcohol and drug misuse and, eventually, a complete breakdown.

Now, Mr. Iveson is marking his road to recovery by embarking on a series of extreme fitness challenges, raising funds for charities which support both disadvantaged children and mental health sufferers.

Mr. Iveson commented:

“My own childhood was blighted by tragedy which led to debilitating mental health problems, so I’m delighted to once again be raising funds for The Principle Trust – a charity which supports children with experiences similar to my own.

“I’m grateful to everyone who has donated, to Thirsk-based company Twisted Automotive for backing me and to The Courtyard Dairy in Settle, who kindly donated the cheese.”

Founder of The Principle Trust, Mike Davies, MBE, commented: 

“Ryan continues to inspire others struggling with mental health problems; thanks to supporters like him The Principle Trust has helped thousands of disadvantaged, disabled and poor children to escape their everyday troubles and create valuable, happy memories.”

For more information about The Principle Trust, please visit: www.theprincipletrust.co.uk. To donate, please visit: www.localgiving.org and search for Ryan’s Wensleydale Whey.