A Grappenhall vet has completed a gruelling 100km challenge in just two days, raising more than £7,000 for a charity supporting the mental health and wellbeing of the veterinary profession.
Alexa Montgomery, from Rutland House Vets branch in Grappenhall, Warrington, took on the Peak District Ultra Challenge in memory of her close friend and fellow vet, John Ellis, who tragically died by suicide.
She was joined by John’s partner, Ashley Andrews, from Northumberland, and Hampshire-based vet Stephanie Ellis, who is no relation to John. Together, the trio tackled the demanding route to raise funds for Vetlife, the charity that provides vital emotional, financial and mental health support to everyone in the veterinary community. Vets in the UK face an alarmingly high risk of suicide, with rates estimated to be three to four times higher than the general public.
Alexa raised £2,000 through her JustGiving page, while the team raised a combined total of £5,288. VetPartners, which owns veterinary practices and animal healthcare businesses throughout the UK and Europe including Rutland House, doubled Alexa’s fundraising efforts for a grand total of £7,000.
John, who was godfather to Alexa’s daughter, Lois, died in 2022 at the age of 35. He is remembered by those who knew him as a kind, compassionate and dedicated vet who cared deeply for both his patients and their owners.
The challenge saw the trio walk 50km on each of two consecutive days, spending around 14 hours on their feet each day as they navigated the tough Peak District terrain.
Alexa said: “It was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done, both physically and emotionally. There were times when we were in tears because we were so exhausted, but we kept reminding ourselves why we were doing it and that gave us the strength to carry on.
“Reaching the finish line was incredibly emotional. Every blister, every aching muscle and every difficult moment was worth it because we have raised such an amazing amount of money for a charity that means so much to us.
“Vetlife does incredible work supporting people across the veterinary profession who are struggling, and we experienced that support ourselves around the time of John’s death. Knowing that help is there for vets, nurses and practice teams when they need it most is invaluable.
“We never want another family, friend or colleague to go through that. If raising money and talking openly about mental health helps even one person reach out for support, then every step of those 100 kilometres was worthwhile. I hope this challenge also helps raise awareness of the pressures people in our profession can face and encourages anyone who is struggling to know they are not alone.”
