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Man hiking all 14ers in one summer for mental health awareness

Posted at 6:20 PM, Jun 27, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-27 20:37:34-04

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. -- More than 1,100 miles on a bicycle, 500 miles on foot within 45 days. That's the summer plan for one Colorado man who is planning on summiting all of the state's fourteeners. 

Mason Gravley is a small business owner who lives in Lakewood. He's done cross-country bike trips before for good causes but has only climbed a handful of Colorado's mountains. So, what in the world would lead him to try this?

"I went through this depression that lasted a year and a half," Gravley said. "I needed to get therapy, and I did, and it totally turned my life around. It's not a sign of weakness to do that, and I'm going to try to prove that."

Proving it by attempting to top 58 mountains in 45 days. He says endurance trips like this are more mental than physical. This trip will likely prove that. 

"I just kind of wanted to show that you're not crazy to have these thoughts and think that you need help," he said. 

The trip's goal is to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and the help that is out there, including one specific option. 

"He's going to be wearing a bib, a jersey as he's cycling along with our information on it," said Adam Wilson of Southwest Counseling Associates.

SCA has offices in Littleton and provides affordable and sometimes free services to those in need. Gravley came to them to offer a partnership before his trek. 

"I think it is just a representation of what's possible for people, an inspiration to other folks with similar stories to him," added Wilson.

Any money raised as part of the trip will go directly to SCA's mission and directly help patients. 

Gravley leaves July 29, hoping to do something bigger than 14,000 feet.