Climbers Like Me: Delyth

Tell us about yourself - who are you and what do you love doing?

I am 33 years old and from North Wales, I am in college with the aim of becoming a nurse. I love being outside in the mountains near my home in any capacity, predominantly trad climbing.

Give us three words that you identify with most?

Caring, climber, explorer.

What brings you the most joy outdoors?

Escaping the sometimes mundane everyday experience, going trad climbing brings me immense joy.

What has been your biggest challenge to date?

Learning to deal with trauma I experienced as a child and the faulty coping mechanisms my mind developed to initially protect me. Unfortunately, the coping mechanisms my brain developed included a functional neurological disorder (FND). For me, this presents as a loss of bodily function, paralysis and non-epileptic seizures. Through years of therapy I have taught my mind healthier ways to deal with the devastating impact of the trauma, to be able to live a normal life without seizures - although this is an ongoing process.

If you could share a core value or abiding principle with others, what would it be?

Be kind, you never know what's driving someone's behaviour.

Tell us one small change we can make as individuals to help our community?

To try not to idolise others, as it can lead to comparison which can lead to resentment of oneself.