Nobody has to
walk alone.

Hike2Heal was born from a simple idea: that healing happens when people come together, step outside their comfort zones, and discover what they are truly capable of.

The journey started in 2023 when I helped organise a standalone hike for another recovery community. At the time, I wasn't particularly excited about it. Living with COPD, the idea of climbing Snowdon wasn't exactly appealing, and I questioned whether I was really up for the challenge. However, I had committed to being of service, so I showed up.

Behind the scenes, I helped organise payments, coach travel, routes, accommodation and kit lists. Before long, 44 people from Birmingham were on a coach heading to Snowdon.

The climb was tough. There were moments when I struggled, moments when I questioned my life choices, and moments when I wondered why on earth I had signed up for it. But when I finally reached the summit, something changed.

I caught the hiking bug.

Standing at the top of Snowdon, surrounded by people supporting one another, I realised that this was about much more than climbing mountains. It was about connection, community, confidence and recovery.

Soon after, someone suggested Ben Nevis. To be honest, I had never even heard of Ben Nevis at the time, but I immediately said yes. In fact, I became obsessed with the idea of completing the Three Peaks Challenge. Over the following nine months, that's exactly what we did.

I set to work organising our next adventure, booking coaches, finding accommodation, planning routes, coordinating logistics and dealing with all the inevitable challenges that come with taking large groups away. Thirty participants joined us for that first trip to Ben Nevis, and once again the response was incredible.

From there, things began to snowball. One hike became another. Day trips became weekends away. More people joined, friendships formed, confidence grew and the community expanded far beyond anything I had imagined.

Over the next two years, we explored some of the most beautiful places across Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England. We climbed mountains, walked coastal paths, challenged ourselves physically and mentally, and created a community where people could feel accepted, supported and understood.

What became clear was that these experiences were changing lives. People who had felt isolated found connection. People struggling with confidence discovered resilience. Complete strangers became lifelong friends. Recovery became something people could enjoy rather than simply endure.

As the community continued to grow, I realised it was time to create something sustainable that could reach even more people. In August 2025, Hike2Heal officially became a registered Community Interest Company (CIC).

Today, Hike2Heal is much more than a hiking group. We are a growing recovery and wellbeing community that uses nature, adventure and connection to support people recovering from addiction, mental-health challenges, trauma and social isolation. Our mission is simple: to help people heal through connection, community, challenge and nature.

From that first reluctant climb up Snowdon to building a national recovery community, the journey has been incredible, and we are only just getting started. Because at Hike2Heal, nobody has to walk alone.