Image source, Ruth Trinder
A woman says an outdoor course run by a charity changed her life after she reached a “breaking point” in her life.
Ruth Trinder, 37, from Hereford, said she turned to the Shropshire group after experiencing deep grief, the breakdown of her marriage and menopausal surgery.
She took part in a five-day course with Climb Out, which was founded by former paracanoeist Kelda Wood, from Shrewsbury.
“I’m a totally different person than I was a year ago. I’m so much happier and in such a good place,” Trinder said.
- author, Chloe Hughes
- role, BBC News, West Midlands
Climbing Out said it aims to support people who have experienced life-changing mental or physical trauma or illness by combining outdoor activities with personal development coaching.
Trinder has resolved to take action on her mental health in 2023.
“It was a really terrifying experience and I felt like I couldn’t last long afterwards,” she told BBC Hereford and Worcester.
She contacted the charity herself and attended one of their courses in the Lake District.
On the first night, her group went out cave exploring and were instructed to turn off their flashlights and work together to escape.
“It’s trying to keep you in the moment and not worry too much about what’s going to happen down the road,” Trinder said.
Other activities organised by the charity included kayaking, abseiling and cold water swimming.
Trinder said the course had changed his outlook on life.
“There’s always this fear of, ‘I don’t want to have any more contact with people because I’m going to keep losing more people in my life,’ but it’s actually amazing what kind of people you can find,” she said.
“With the group I worked with, we talk almost every day.”
Trinder said she was now raising funds to help others take part in the course.
She said outdoor activities played a big role in her recovery.
“I’ve been in that dark place myself,” she said.
“We’re really going back to basics. We’re very outspoken, very practical, very down to earth. And a lot of times, that’s what people need to hear.”
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