The Covid-19 pandemic wasn't kind to anyone, flipping lives upside down and forcing people into isolation. During the pandemic, grandad John Fairley found his mental health dipping, piling on the weight he'd lost in the last decade after gorging on biscuits before sitting on video calls for work.
But the 56-year-old managed to drag himself out of a 'very dark place', quit his job as an engineer and has gone on to raise over £10,000 for charity, Birmingham Live reports.
"I was working from home," John said. "My life was getting up, having a shower and sitting for eight hours a day on Teams meetings. It wasn't pleasant."
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"I would make myself a cup of coffee and have four to five biscuits," he said. "I got myself back into a better place."
But it didn't take long for it to fall off again when lockdown ended and he reunited with personal trainer pal Alex.
The Solihull fundraiser, who has five children and two grandchildren, is now one of the oldest among more than 50 intrepid fundraisers set to conquer Ben Nevis this weekend. Today, April 22, will be his fourth time tackling the gruelling 4,400ft climb.
The group are climbing in aid of Warwickshire children's charity Molly Ollys. Bosses support kids with life-threatening illnesses and their families. The challenge was organised by Alex, from Stratford, who will lead the large group eight-and-a-half miles up Britain’s highest peak.
An experienced climber who has previously scaled Snowdon, John said he would play an "encouraging role" to make sure everybody else was OK.
"I go at my pace," he said. "I know that if I put one foot in front of the other I'll get up and down it safely."
John - who sees supporting the Guide Dogs charity as his main role - will be armed with the essentials for his climb. That will include a first aid kit, handheld GPS and plenty of sugar and protein snacks like jelly babies.
He added: "I'm very much a people person. I think we are put in this world to make a difference."
John first began raising money for charity six years ago, when he and Alex he took on The Lands End to John O'Groats Cycle Challenge, raising £7,500 for different charities including British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research. To date, he's raised £11,554 to support work helping the vulnerable.
Alex - who runs The Better Man project offering emotional and physical support to men - called John a "constant source of inspiration".
Alex said: "When [John] first joined he was overworked, exhausted, drinking too much and had gained a dangerous amount of body fat. He has turned it around, losing 45 lbs of body fat and dragging himself out of a very dark place.
"At 56 years of age he has completed the gruelling 13-mile special forces trek through the Brecon Beacons whilst carrying a 55lb bergen. He has also conquered Ben Nevis in the cold of winter, Scafell Pike and the Yorkshire 3 Peaks to name a few.
"He is always game for doing new stuff like abseiling off rock faces, learning how to ski and riding his motorbike. His thirst for fun and adventure is something we all love about him.
"His new lease of life has allowed him to channel his energy into his family and John is taking his role as Grandad with the upmost responsibility. He spends as much time as possible with his two beautiful grandchildren as well as a being a committed father and husband."
To find out more information or sponsor the climb click here.
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