Lee’s story
“Seeing poverty first-hand and the hardships that the Nepali people were facing, changes you profoundly. But actually it was the resolve, resourcefulness, compassion and sheer appreciation that these people showed that really left a mark…”
A pilgrimage of healing through Compassion
It's the year 2000, and little do I know that a life-long journey is about to begin. A journey punctuated by empathy, trust and strong friendships, all through the eyes of one going through inner trials and tribulations. A journey that, through hope, ultimately ends in a wisdom which can only be gained by stepping out of your comfort zone and seeing life from a vastly unfamiliar perspective.
The beginning of this tale is a prelude to the main story. I'm 18 and still in college. As someone who has always enjoyed the outdoors and trekking, I'm at the end of a month-long trip journeying through Mexico. The trip, which has mostly been to less visited parts of the country, has opened my young mind to the vastly different human experiences that people in different parts of the planet must have, especially in the developing World (living day-to-day with the sole concern of survival).
Fast forward a year and my main story begins. My wanderlust is still strong, and with commitments on hold after finishing my A levels, I find myself in the Himalayas. A dream I've had from an early age. I'm already aware that stepping out of my comfort zone and challenging myself, offer some solace for the battles in my head which are already making themselves known. I'm prepared for what I might see to a degree, having experienced a similar way of life in the poorer parts of Mexico, but that does not make some of the sights (seeing the look despair in the eyes of a child begging alone or sniffing glue amongst the refuge of Kathmandu) that I experienced any less eye-opening.
Seeing poverty first-hand and the hardships that the Nepali people were facing, changes you profoundly. But actually it was the resolve, resourcefulness, compassion and sheer appreciation that these people showed (qualities that may be somewhat lacking in the Western World) that really left a mark. A brief visit to a struggling orphanage at the end of the trip would prove to leave a mark on some members of my travelling companions more than myself (many of the charity’s original trustees describe this as a life-changing experience, collectively impassioned to do something about what they saw but unsure how), leading to the formation of the Disabled Welfare Association UK. However, the friendships that I had formed with these companions, and the impact the Nepali people had had on me, meant that I became a committed supporter of the charity in its early years.
We’re trekking again in 2025!
It's several years later and the charity has grown from strength to strength. Now called New Futures Nepal, the charity has funded the building of 2 homes for disadvantaged children and funded several projects. By this time my struggles with mental health are fully apparent, but I have found that challenging myself physically and mentally with ultra distance walking is highly beneficial to my mental wellbeing. Doing these challenges also gave me the opportunity to raise much needed funds for New Futures Nepal all while becoming a part of a wonderful community of fellow challengers all bonded by the shared experience of pushing ourselves to the limit and beyond. During this period, I also revisited Nepal. An experience that further strengthened my love of the country and its people, as well as my desire to give back to them. It also strengthened the bonds I had developed with some of the trustees of the charity and fellow supporters that had accompanied me on the journey.
In 2017 New Futures Nepal put out a call for fresh eyes and new skills in a bid to rejuvenate the charity and grow. This came at a significant turning point in my life. Performing well academically, acquiring a 1st class degree in Biology and gaining a student award in my masters in Medical Diagnostics, it had become clear that my perfectionist nature and anxiety to perform would prove detrimental to my well-being. I had worked for several years in the rather formal setting of clinical NHS laboratories, but had become disillusioned by the politics of the work environment, and my lack of progression (which was being held back by social and performance anxiety when applying for positions and attempting to climb the career ladder). I had therefore made the decision to leave the profession.
With my knowledge and experience taking part in ultra distance challenges and having created close friends with the event crew at these events, I began working for the company providing the challenges, Action Challenge. At this point, with my love of travel and the mountains, it was my desire to train as a mountain leader as many of the crew I worked with were in this exciting profession. The call for trustees was therefore a serendipitous event. Not only did I have a set of skills that aligned perfectly with their needs (a knowledge of Nepal and a passion for its people, a close association with the fundraising sector, and experience with technology such as social media and fundraising platforms), but the bonds I shared with my fellow trustees and the sense of purpose that the role would bring would help me face my mental health challenges in the years to come. I therefore did not hesitate in applying and happily accepted the role.
Since joining New Futures Nepal I have coordinated many fundraising events and helped supporters raise funds for the charity. A third trip to Nepal in a trustee capacity in which I joined supporters on a trek to Annapurna base camp, also revitalised my passion for the country and New Futures Nepal’s charitable work. Two years ago however (without going into too much detail), my issues with my mental health unfortunately came to a head when I developed panic disorder (which led to derealisation and visual snow) and I had to give up work and abandon my dream of completing my mountain leader training. Despite these issues, I continued my commitment to New Futures Nepal, finding comfort in the outlet for my attention and being able to deal with my own troubles by helping others.
Lee Brown
Today I find myself mostly healed and back to work at ultra events, and excited for the what is to come with New Futures Nepal. As we stand at a pivotal point in the charity’s history, I feel thankful to have been a part of the charity's history and proud of all that we have achieved. Without all the hard work of everyone involved, we would not have been able to create such change in the wonderful country of Nepal and my mental health journey could have been quite different.
