Some letters are written to one person.

This one is written to anyone who has ever wondered whether they should still be here.

Niamh wrote this letter on a flight to Newfoundland, just before setting off on an extraordinary challenge: a solo hike of nearly 700km along the East Coast Trail to raise money and awareness for mental health charities.

On 1 March 2024, Niamh attempted to take her own life. Five months later, she completed a solo thru-hike of the East Coast Trail, raising an incredible amount for Canadian mental health initiatives. She’s now walking the trail again—there and back—in the hope that her story helps someone else keep going.

This letter includes references to suicidal thoughts and mental health. If you are struggling, please seek support ❤️ You are not alone.

Thank you, Niamh (@niamhsullivan), for trusting The Letterbox Podcast with your story. This won’t be the last time you’ll hear from her—once she completes her hike, she’ll return with another letter reflecting on the journey.

You can follow Niamh’s adventure and support her challenge via the link in the show notes.

💌 If you’d like to share your own letter on The Letterbox Podcast, email theletterboxpodcast@outlook.com. Every story matters, and yours could be the letter that someone else needs to hear today.