AFTER battling with mental health problems in the past, one gym buff has inspired 50 others to follow his lead by trekking up Ben Nevis in three weeks’ time.

Gary Turland, who works as a senior sports and fitness development officer at Grange Leisure in Stratton, suffered with major anxiety around four years ago and would often find himself developing irrational fears about anything and everything.

But after getting the help and support he needed, the 31-year-old set about raising money and awareness for mental health charities to encourage others not to suffer in silence.

On June 16, he will be lacing up his walking boots to climb Ben Nevis along with 50 pals – many of whom decided to take part after hearing about Gary’s previous adventurous expedition up Mount Snowdon.

“A lot of what I do in my role is work in the community and getting people fit and part of that is healthy fitness but also mental health,” Gary said.

“The reason I decided to organise this trek was because I had a lot of people asking when I was going to do it again. It was through word of mouth and Facebook that I have been able to spread the word and get 50 people involved and now we are just trying to raise as much money as we can.

“It’s a great challenge because I want to keep raising money for mental health charities and I feel that because I work in sports, boxing and mixed martial arts, it is a taboo topic and people don’t really talk about it.

“Since I experienced problems, I have built up a passion to help others and work have been very good to me when I was going through my hard times.

“What I hope to do is raise money and awareness of mental health and at the end of the day, it is all good fun and this has brought a group of people together.”

The group will be raising money for Mind and CALM and it is hoped that the 50-strong group will be able to complete the 1344m trek in six hours.

Gary, who is a self-confessed footie fan and plays with friends when he can, is now putting in the hours training ahead of the challenge and is holding regular meets with the group in preparation.

“It is going to be tough and it is going to be a mixture of abilities taking part," Gary, who has worked at Grange Leisure for the last 10 years, added.

"It is a challenge but it is very doable in the time we’ve set ourselves.

“Even though I’ve climbed Snowdon, this is still going to be a challenge for me because it is completely different but it will be nice to complete it together because there is no pressure, we can take our time.

“Everyone is getting on with one another and it is a good thing to do for the community but it is also good for personal fitness and mental wellbeing.”

There are still a few places left on the trek if any plucky individual is willing to take part.

To sign up in one of the spaces available, email gary.turland@strattonstmargaret.gov.uk or to donate, visit the Ben Nevis Challenge 2017 Grange Leisure Calm/Mind Facebook page here.