Ross writes…

After battling depression for nine years, brave postman Ross Hunt, from South Wales, is urging colleagues with untreated mental health issues to ask for help.

In August, Ross took part in the Wye Valley Challenge, a 100km walk from Chepstow to Hereford, to raise money for our charity partner, Action for Children. Although the course can be done over two days, Ross attempted to complete the challenge in one go without undergoing any preparatory training for it.

‘Part of my reason for doing it this way was to impose a massive challenge upon myself. I wanted to find myself in a position where I had no choice but to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. It was going to be a metaphor to take into my everyday life. Unfortunately, I failed and like many other moments where I've struggled in my life, this challenge ended with my wife being there to pick me up.

I hate the fact that I didn't complete the challenge

‘I know I probably shouldn't be ashamed of failing to complete the challenge, but I am. When I set out on the walk my goal was to not stop until it was finished. But, instead of getting to 100km, I only managed 74. I failed in my goal and hate the fact that I dropped out.

‘I could list a hundred different excuses as to why I didn't finish, including the fact that I suffered a fractured foot. But I'm not going to. At the checkpoint, I sat slumped in a chair with my hood up. I was disappointed in my decision to stop. The idea of dragging my foot along for another 10 hours was mentally killing me. I was stupid in how I approached this challenge and I think I overestimated my ability. I'm not afraid to say that I came up short and on this particular day, I just wasn't good enough. Sometimes in life you fail, but the main thing is that we pick ourselves up and get stronger.

Failure can make us stronger if we're willing to learn from it

If we're humble enough to admit to failure, we can learn and grow from it. I know I did. Everyone who has ever achieved anything in life has also failed in the process. It's a horrible feeling, but one that teaches us far more than when we are successful. I might not have crossed that finish line, but I certainly came out of the challenge a better person.

Struggle is not an isolated thing

‘The most obvious thing you quickly learn from doing something like the Wye Valley Challenge is that struggle is not an isolated thing. If you take a look around at any rest stop, it’s very obvious that others are struggling too. For me, that's a great thing to take into everyday life.

‘In the past, when I've suffered with depression, I've almost felt like it's something unique to me. But it's not. Pain and suffering is something all of us can go through at some point in our lives. Feeling separated from everyone and isolated in that pain only makes it worse.

‘Although I failed at what I set out to do, this challenge was more about Action for Children than me. Action for Children is the type of charity which is there for people who feel like they're failing. When someone gets to the point where they feel like they can't go on, Action for Children is there to pick them up.

‘If you would like to help Action for Children and the Blues Programme you can still donate via my SponsorMe page. Who knows, maybe next year I'll go back and try to finish what I started.’

Keep an eye on myroyalmail.com for more updates on Ross’ progress in the coming months. You can also visit his website, www.isablog.co.uk.