Climbing mountains for mental health
A Hamilton woman has decided to climb one of the world’s highest peaks to raise awareness of mental health.
Come September, Emily Webb, 24, will tackle Mt Kilimanjaro to honour her late father and fundraise for the Mental Health Foundation.
In 2009, Webb’s father took his own life. Webb said the Kiwi ‘‘toughen-up’’ culture didn’t help him overcome his depression, and now she wants to make sure others know it’s okay to not be okay.
‘‘Looking back now, I can see all the triggers and everything that happened along the way. I’m just really passionate about spreading the word and making sure everyone’s aware that’s it’s okay to not be okay.’’
Mt Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa and stands at 5895m.
Webb will be making the climb with 26 other New Zealanders. It’s predicted to be a five-day ascent and two-day descent.
There will be days when the group will walk eight hours straight.
‘‘I studied Kilimanjaro back when I was in high school and, even at the earliest stages, it really fascinated me,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s two things I’m really passionate about. Mental health is so important so I thought why not combine the two?’’
It’s Webb’s first time mountaineering but working at Fastlane Fitness has meant there’s no barrier to her training.
Most of it is endurance training, and Webb wears an altitude mask during workouts.
An altitude mask limits the amount of oxygen going into the body and is the closest thing to replicating what it’ll be like climbing the mountain.
Webb said it’s good to be prepared.
‘‘In terms of sickness, you can go downhill very quickly, and no matter how fit you are, or how ready you are for the day, anyone can be hit then and there.
‘‘I keep generally quite fit … but this is on another scale. It’s a mental challenge as well,’’ Webb said.
‘‘I can’t imagine it’s all going to be smooth sailing. I’m definitely nervous, it’d be silly not to be.’’
Webb said the journey will be a healing experience, and emotional once she gets to the summit.
‘‘I’ll most likely be crying happy tears,’’ she said.
Webb will be holding a movie night on June 25 and a number of sausage sizzles leading up to her climb.
For more information, visit everydayhero.com/nz/ and search for Emily Webb. An award-winning New Zealand toy company turning over half a billion dollars a year is the focus of the University of Waikato Management School’s 42nd Case Competition, taking place on Wednesday, May 31, at the university. From humble beginnings in a Cambridge garage in 2004, Zuru Toys has expanded rapidly over the past decade to become a global China-based company that sells toys in 121 countries. Some of Zuru’s best-selling products include Robo Fish, the world’s fastest-selling toy of the year in 2013; and Bunch o’ Balloons, which recently won US Toy of the Year. Four finalist teams of Waikato management students will compete for a $2500 cash prize by presenting their recommended business growth strategies for Zuru Toys to a panel of external judges, in front of a public audience. The competition final starts at 6pm in the PWC lecture theatre, Waikato Management School, Hillcrest Road, Hamilton. The public is welcome to attend.