A FORMER employee of a Ross-on-Wye business is undertaking the challenge of flying around the United Kingdom and Channel Islands.

Lyle Weir former staff member at Gillman’s Electricals in Ross, is a 24-year-old pilot undertaking the challenge of flying around the country.

He started the voyage on September 1, in a bid to raise awareness and money for mental health support.

The charity flight plans to spread a strong, positive, and uplifting message.

Lyle said: “Mental health has affected everyone at some stage in their lives including me, yet I believe it is still a very misunderstood, underestimated and dangerous killer that is hardly spoken about.”

He added: “I am planning to take a single engine aircraft, Piper Arrow, all around the outskirts of the UK and to the Channel Islands, landing at multiple stops from the furthest points south, all the way to the high north, spreading awareness and covering the many illnesses and disorders that are classified and recognised under mental health during my time at these different places.”

Lyle has suffered his own personal battles due to the loss of close family which led him to a very low and dark time in his life that he kept quiet for a long time.

Along with those, some of the closest people in his life have also suffered badly with mental health, leaving him to feel helpless and unsure of what to do or say.

He said: “Worst of all I have lost close friends who have had to battle with mental health and sadly chose to take their own life due to it.

“I know everyone reading this has their own stories and experiences with it all, and the time is now that we come together and start doing something about it.

“This charity flight won’t cure everyone and make the illness disappear; but if it gets people talking, opening up and realising they are not on their own then that to me is success.”

So far he’s nearly halfway to his funding goal of £10,000 and Lyle plans to give the donated funds to mental health charity The Mix.

Lyle said The Mix is a charity whose work and dedication speak for itself, and it will be an honour to raise money for such a hard working organisation.

Lyle added: “I would also like to say a big thank you to all the businesses that are sponsoring the flight. Really appreciate everyone getting behind me and supporting this campaign.”

Michael Thelwall, Mix fundraising boss said: “We’re delighted that Lyle is taking to the skies to raise money for vital mental health services for young people. By fundraising for the UK’s leading digital support service for U25s, Lyle’s charity flight will help to support our life-saving services.”

To donate and for more details, see https://linktr.ee/weir_airborne.