Louis is a 22 year old adventurer and endurance athlete who embarks on extreme challenges in support of important causes. From ultra-marathons to mountains, he has already achieved several impressive achievements and has received public support from numerous highly respected figures in the adventure world.
Following his charity challenge in Summer 2021, when he climbed Pen y Fan 10 times non-stop whilst wearing a 10kg vest in 18 hours 47 minutes, Louis was asked to become an Ambassador for Walking With The Wounded; a voluntary role representing the charity at events and supporting fundraisers with their own challenges.
“I’m very proud to say for many years my mates and I have had an open channel about mental health: checking in on each other and being able to lean on one another when needed. However, I know this is far from an accurate representation for every young adult and their friend groups. I know there is still a huge amount of work to be done for those out there who continue to suffer, including those fighting their battles in silence. I’m pleased to join the BRIT family as an Ambassador and play my part in destigmatising mental health and also providing opportunities to improve young adult mental health, fitness and wellbeing.
The annual BRIT Challenge is a fantastic feelgood February fundraiser for every UK university, college, specialist college and Students’ Union to enter teams and encourage their students and staff to participate. As a fundraiser, I’m delighted that every university and college team taking part in the BRIT Challenge are invited to choose a second charity to raise funds for, alongside BRIT, to support local, regional and national charities.
From my own charity challenges over the years, I know first hand one of the best parts is the community of these events, both fundraising alongside familiar and new faces. So it’s inspiring to see that the BRIT Challenge is an inclusive event so that students and staff of all abilities can participate; it’s a great way to improve mental health and fitness on campus or at home. Teams can cover the 2,022 mile distance by either hand-cycling, cycling, wheelchair pushing, swimming, walking, jogging, running, rowing or paddling (canoeing, kayaking or paddle-boarding).
By promoting the BRIT Challenge at a university and colleges of my choice, I hope to help destigmatise mental health, champion equality, diversity and inclusion, and, together with the BRIT Ambassador family, have a positive impact on improving young adult and student mental health.
I’m thrilled to be a BRIT Ambassador alongside so many incredible athletes, including two of my adventure heroes Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Louis Rudd MBE. I would like to encourage my own mates who are at university and also any students reading who would like to play their part in improving young adult mental health to get involved, support and help make a difference.
I look forward to supporting and encouraging students at King’s College London, the University of Edinburgh and the University of Manchester should they enter teams and take on their BRIT Challenge.”
Louis’ journey began after failing his A-level exams. Refusing to allow these results to define the end of his childhood he decided to embark on something that would push his limits even further, and to raise money for a charity close to his heart; Alzheimer’s Research UK. This resulted in Louis summiting the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, Mt Kilimanjaro, with no prior mountaineering or altitude experience at 19 years old.
After returning from Africa with a new found passion for adventure, Louis left his job to pursue his first big project: 20 challenges in 2020 at 20 years old. Over 9 months, and adapting to cancellations and lockdowns during the pandemic, Louis completed his challenges with highlights including the world’s first duathlon in an altitude chamber, the 3 Peaks Challenge in under 24 hours and the virtual London Marathon.
During 2021, Louis has volunteered with RE:ACT Disaster Response as a Disaster Responder. He has been involved in critical tasks such as supporting the emergency services at the Temporary Mortuary in Surrey and the Woking Mass Testings against the SA variant. As one of the charity’s youngest responders, Louis was nominated for the Courage & Humility award at the RE:ACT 2021 Values Awards.
Louis has since completed further ultra and endurance challenges such as his first 100km Ultra Marathon. He is now working on several exciting projects for 2022, and whilst hoping to continue pushing British adventure, underlying all his plans Louis is committed to his charity work; including now as a BRIT Ambassador.
For more information about Louis, please visit his website www.louisalexander.org
You can follow Louis on Instagram.
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