Our Journey
Embark on our remarkable quest, as we share the challenges and triumphs of our pursuit to conquer all 7 summits on each of the 7 continents. Witness the dedication, resilience, and camaraderie that drive our team forward.
Experience the gravity of our mission, the heights we aspire to reach, and the inspiring landscapes that fuel our determination. Join us on this extraordinary adventure, where every step marks a milestone towards victory.
Ian Fox
Name: Ian Fox
Nickname: Foxy
Regiment: The Rifles (5th Battalion)
Years of service: 8
Climbing background: RCI, ML-Trained (MLT) and IRATA, co-Regional Coordinator Northern Region
Reason for joining C2R: Depression & Mental Health
My name is Ian Fox and I served for 8 years with 5th Battalion The Rifles and a further 4 years with 8 Rifles as a reservist. During my time in service I deployed on operations in Afghanistan as a sharpshooter and Pashtu linguist and later being employed as a regimental signaller, Warrior AFV gunner and assault pioneer.
I voluntarily discharged myself from the army in 2020 after the tragic loss of my daughter, Lilly. She was born with a heart defect in 2014 that sadly led to her passing years later while she was waiting for a transplant at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. This hit me quite hard and at times, left me unable to focus on the most basic of tasks as well as seriously affecting my overall mental well-being.
Shortly after leaving the army, I became an adventure support worker, looking after extremely vulnerable young people in the care system.
It was here that a colleague/veteran (and now close friend) suggested that I approach C2R for support and to expand my social support network as I was becoming increasingly isolated after leaving the forces.
Today, thanks to C2R, I have met some incredible individuals that I am privileged to now call friends. My confidence has returned with rock climbing as well as other aspects of my wellbeing and I've gained qualifications which have helped to advance my career and enabled me to set goals to restore some much-needed structure and balance back to my life.
I don't believe that my battle with depression will ever truly be over but having both long-term and short-term goals to work towards definitely helps. This is why the 7 Summits bid is so important to me.
Shonagh Kinnear
Name: Shonagh Kinnear
Nickname: Goose
Regiment: Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps
Years of service: 10
Climbing background: RCI Trained, ML Trained (Both assessments to be taken in 2024)
Reason for joining C2R: Ankle & nerve injury with a possible ankle fusion at a future date
My name is Shonagh and I have served for 10 years in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps. I am still currently serving as a Nurse at the Royal Centre of Defence Medicine, Birmingham awaiting medical discharge from service. Whilst competing for the Army Medical Services Equestrian Team I took a fall from a horse and fractured the talus bone in my ankle, this resulted on 2 surgeries to internally fixate the bone and to have nerve graft to try and help with the nerve damage sustained from the previous surgery. Unfortunately, due to this injury I am no longer able to complete the required operational standards to remain in the Army.
After sustaining the injury and having reduced function and chronic pain, finding out I was no longer going to be able to continue in the Army I felt a deep sense of loss which has greatly affected my mental health. I reached out to Climb 2 Recovery as climbing was a sport I loved before joining the Army and attend my first meet January this year.
After losing my stepfather in a mountaineering accident in 2015 I never thought I would climb again let alone aspire to climb Mt Everest. With the support and instruction from C2R I am now working towards the Rock Climbing Instructor and Mountain Leader qualifications. Being part of C2R has given me a sense of belonging and readjusted my goals in life beyond the military.
Chris Braun
Name: Chris Braun
Nickname: Geordie
Regiment: The Royal Engineers
Years of service: 11
Climbing background: RCI, ML, co-Regional Coordinator Northern Region
Reason for joining C2R: Crohn’s and colitis Disease.
Former Corporal within the Royal Engineers from County Durham. I served on various construction and operational tours including: Afghanistan, Belize, Kenya, Germany and UK. I was medically discharged following an 11-year career due to developing a lifelong condition, Crohns and Colitis a type of inflammatory bowel disease whilst on a construction tour in Belize 2008. In 2012 I had major abdominal surgery to remove the worst affected sections of my bowel and was later medically discharged in 2013.
Following lengthy periods of medication, I am pleased to say my Crohns Disease is well managed and I am now medication-free. I find Climbing and mountaineering beneficial to stress relief and stabilisation of my condition as Crohn’s disease has direct links to stress.
I joined Climb 2 Recovery in 2022 and have since qualified as a rock-climbing instructor and mountain leader. I also volunteer as the co-regional co-ordinator for the North of England alongside Ian Fox, organising local climbing and mountaineering events.
Andy Speed
Name: Andrew Speed
Nickname: Speedy
Regiment: 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment
Years of service: 28
Climbing background: RCI, MLT
Reason for joining C2R: Lower Limb Amputation
My name is Andy Speed, I served for 28 years in the Parachute Regiment, during this time I was successful in passing the Special Forces Communicator Course and spent a few years at Hereford. I have deployed on 22 operational tours including Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone again for the Royal Irish hostage rescue, Iraq, and multiple deployments to Afghanistan.
I was injured in 2012 and spent the next 7 years having 12 unsuccessful operations culminating in a below knee amputation of my right leg in June 2019.
After several months of coping with the initial side effects from the operation, I was very keen to prove to myself and others that this was not going to hold me back. I heard about Climb2Recovery at the start of the first week in March 2020. My strength and skills have slowly grown, culminating in passing the RCI and completing my ML Training in 2023. I am always pushing myself for bigger and harder adventures, the 7 Summits will be a penultimate accolade for our team, a dream that will hopefully be brought to reality.
Over my 28-year tenure I have witnessed and advised many individuals with mental health issues, I continue to see the side effects from traumatic experiences through my time with Climb2Recovery and would be humbled to think that our efforts now could have a beneficial effect on others in the future.