We are delighted that adventurer, author, blogger and film-maker, Alastair Humphreys continues to be part of our BRIT Ambassador family to support young adult mental health throughout the UK and is championing the annual BRIT Challenge.
“I am delighted to be part of the BRIT Ambassador family and champion the BRIT Challenge; their annual UK-wide feel-good February fundraiser.
The annual BRIT Challenge provides the opportunity for every university, college, specialist college and Students’ Union to enter teams and encourage their students and staff to take part.
The BRIT ethos resonates with me as their BRIT Challenge has been designed to enable students and staff of all abilities to participate wherever they are (at home or on campus) and add their completed miles to their team’s target.
BRIT Ambassadors are Olympians, Paralympians, sports personalities, adventurers and explorers who are uniting to support and improve young adult mental health. I urge fellow adventurers and explorers to join the BRIT family and support a university or college of their choice in order to encourage and inspire students and staff to take on the BRIT Challenge. With the impact of COVID-19 on young adult mental health, there has never been a more important time to support and improve young adult mental health and fitness.
I hope to enthuse and encourage the University of Edinburgh and the University of Oxford (and all their colleges) to embrace the BRIT Challenge so that all their students and staff have the opportunity to take part.”
Alistair Humphreys FRGS
BRIT Ambassador
Alastair’s quest for adventure began young. Aged nine, he completed the 20 mile Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge, then the National 3 Peaks in 24 hours aged 13. At 15, he cycled off-road across England. After leaving school, he taught for a year in South Africa.
Whilst at university (Edinburgh and Oxford), Alistair cycled from Pakistan to China, Land’s End to John O’Groats, Turkey to Italy, Mexico to Panama and across South America. He ran a charity project in the Philippines and completed the London Marathon dressed as a rhino.
Since graduating, Alistair has cycled round the world for four years, raced a yacht across the Atlantic Ocean, canoed 500 miles down the Yukon River and walked the length of the holy Kaveri River in India.
Alastair has also run the Marathon des Sables and in 2009, supported BRIT’s Founder, Phil Packer, by rowing the English Channel with him. In 2010, understanding Phil’s complex disability and medical issues, Alistair supported his Sport Relief 3 Peaks Challenge and enabled Phil to complete the challenge in 72 hours. Later that year, Alistair completed an unsupported crossing of Iceland by foot and packraft.
In 2011, Alastair decided to remain in the UK in order to encourage people to seek out adventure and wilderness closer to home, challenging themselves through micro-adventures.
In 2012, Alistair rowed the Atlantic Ocean, completed an expedition to Greenland and walked across the Empty Quarter desert.
Since then, Alastair has concentrated on his micro-adventures and encouraging people to get out and for more adventure into their busy lives.
Alastair has published 12 books and is a keen photographer and videographer. He is a patron of Hope and Homes for Children, the Youth Adventure Trust, the Outdoor Swimming Society and the Yorkshire Dales Society. For more information on Alistair, please visit his website.