“The mind is a powerful thing. It can take you through walls.” ― Denis Avey. Alex turned his dream of becoming an adventurist into reality at a young age by courageously overcoming low self-esteem, depression and anxiety caused by mild epilepsy. With his passion for the outdoors and a boosted self-esteem, Alex has accomplished many challenges including becoming the fastest person to climb all 100 UK county tops (peaks) in an astounding 72 days. He has penned his adventurous memoir Icefall, which takes us on a journey on his inspiring quest to climb Mt. Everest. His role as ambassador for Westgrove Group, YHA England & Wales, PHASE Worldwide and Viewranger is giving him an excellent opportunity to inspire many others.

What sparked the drive for adventure and taking on challenges and how did it change your outlook on life? How do you manage your epilepsy while on expeditions/athletic feats?A: I'd never been physically gifted or adventurous before, and childhood adversity prevented me having the confidence to dream big. The earliest moment I recall was trying paragliding on holiday when I was 13. I'd never been so scared and not sure where the urge came from - but for once I realised that I could overcome anything. From then on it changed my victim mindset to a victory mindset, I wanted to find what else I could achieve in life.

Can you tell us about your experience with your first attempt to climb Mount Everest in 2014? What did you learn from your first attempt that was useful for the second attempt in 2015?A: A huge avalanche disaster sadly took the lives of sixteen people and our expedition was cancelled whilst we were at base camp. Considering the circumstances this only seemed the right decision in hindsight. The main lesson was just how uncertain life can be - the mountain doesn't care how hard we've worked or trained for something. Life is much the same. But more specifically I realised just how mental power is more important than physical preparation for something like Everest, so when I came home I totally changed my approach to training, focusing more on training my mind to endure the uncertainty and suffering of high altitude mountaineering. Fitness is important but the engine is only as good as the steering wheel.

You have claimed the distinction of being the fastest person to climb all 100 UK county tops by completing this challenge in 72 days. Which climb was the most memorable one and why?A: A very hard question! Each had their own charm, weather conditions and other factors which made them so different. One particular hill that stood out to me was Ward Hill on the Isle of Orkney where I had the entire plateau to myself and the coast in every direction I looked. It just felt so isolated from the UK as I knew it. Beacon Hill in Norfolk was also a firm favourite because I had 30 students walking with me from a nearby school. Having them outside of the classroom and getting active was incredibly rewarding to be part of; it only takes one outdoor experience to change a mindset. Others would have been special had I been able to see more than a few metres in front of me!

Can you tell us more about your role as ambassador for different charity organizations?A: I'm an ambassador for two charities - YHA England & Wales, which creates opportunities to enhance the lives of young people. They have a huge network of hostels across the UK and it was one of those that I first experienced the UK mountains. I also represent PHASE Worldwide, a Nepal charity helping to improve the livelihoods of people in remote areas of Nepal. After seeing the devastation of the Nepal earthquake I felt that supporting PHASE would make a contribution to the Nepalese people who have so little but give so much - I organised and created their "Walk4Nepal" event on the anniversary of the earthquake which has so far raised over £27,000 for their projects.
I'm also an ambassador for two businesses - Westgrove Group have over 1500 colleagues in their security and facilities management company and have supported me for 3 years now. All of my ambassador roles give me an opportunity to share my story with more people and hopefully inspire them to overcome whatever challenges they may face in life.

What challenges did you face during your school days? How can kids in similar situations prepare themselves to face their challenges?A: We all have our own Everest in life. At school I had a few challenges including a small bout of epilepsy which fortunately was brought under control by medication and I haven't had a seizure for over 12 years now so doesn't cause any problems. But this unsettling experience left me with a stammer which even today can make every day communication difficult. I was relentlessly bullied through much of school - kids can be nasty. That stole my confidence and esteem. Having the epileptic seizures quite young left me pretty anxious and for a while even being away from my parents was nerve wracking. It's bizarre to think I now do most of my challenges alone in the mountains and I make a living from professional speaking! I think the only way we can prepare ourselves is to hit them head on. Throw ourselves into the deep end and out of our comfort zones as only then do we realise what were capable of achieving. I also wish I'd known that bullies cannot MAKE you feel anything.

Who is your inspiration?A: I'm most inspired by other people who have overcome extraordinary things in the face of adversity. Success means something different to everyone but it's the people who keep getting back on their feet who inspire me most. During the Everest journey it was the other young Everest climbers as they were the only example I had to prove that it could possibly be done - and by replicating the same environment and approach I had a chance of following suit. Nowadays I have the fortune of meeting so many inspiring people. Probably the most resilient of all are the Sherpa people in Nepal who have so little but get on with life regardless, especially after the earthquake. My good friend Jeff Smith was on Everest with me in 2014 and since then he not only went back to summit the mountain but set up a charitable project called Bigmoose which has gathered momentum and captured the hearts of many: Jeff has a clear vision that people instantly want to be part of and make a difference.

What are your other hobbies?A: I'm not a mountaineer but an endurance adventurer. My challenges usually involve walking, running and cycling which are my main hobbies anyway, competitive running especially. Writing, listening to music (loud, of course), food, scuba diving and photography are other interests but most of my time seems to be spent working and planning adventures. Although I'm lucky that I make a living from them - through motivational speaking, writing and ambassador roles. A job is only to survive: many people get stuck doing something that they hate doing to keep doing something they hate. Conventional society has created a system where making money and fitting in is the priority. To me this seems a terrible waste of potential and time. We are what we choose to be and I decided I would find a meaningful career that fulfils my own purpose, not what others expect of me.

What do you like to do when you are with your family/friends?A:  I spend most of my time doing my own thing and prefer being independent with the freedom to challenge my own thresholds, but like to see friends for a coffee when I can. Walking the dog at home with my mum is one of life's simple pleasures.

What tips/advice do you have for those in our community who want to overcome their obstacles and be adventurous?A: Adventure means something different to everyone but it's about taking small steps and pushing comfort zones. Over time you raise the threshold and aim for bigger challenges. It's a wonderful journey. Whatever obstacles we face, I think being adventurous helps to change our mindset towards them by boosting confidence and giving us an escape. So, my best tips would just be firstly to set a goal (or more than one) that's ambitious but realistic. Better to aim slightly smaller and build momentum than for something too high you'll never reach and go backwards. Take small steps - if you think too much of the bigger picture it can be quite overwhelming and your own obstacles might take over again. Find a mentor - I've been lucky to have people mentoring and advising me to ask myself the right questions. If you put out the right messages you'll probably find they'll come across you naturally and want to help. Lastly, understand that things might not always go to plan, but failure is not something to be afraid of, it's only a chance to win.

Any special message for our community?A: We all have our challenges - do they have you?