Christine discovered climbing while doing a course to work with “children at risk of exclusion” back in 2005. She immediately realised this was the life for her and within 2 years gained her SSSA, SPA and CWLA while working as a volunteer for a children’s charity in Brighton. In 2008 she founded Vertigirls. A BMC affiliated climbing club aimed at but not exclusively for women with additional needs. She was the director, training coordinator, trip organiser, funding coordinator, and many other things for the club for 17 years as a full time volunteer.
She’s recently retired and still does some training for them and advises when called upon. She is bi-polar and has various physical health issues which can both limit her mobility and create manic or suicidal tendencies. When she is able to climb she finds climbing and being outdoors helps her immensely. She loves sharing her passion for climbing with others who face challenges like herself and has run courses for Mind, Mind Out and the Recovery College as well as Vertigirls. She has climbed extensively throughout the world but has never wanted to “climb hard” , preferring a simply beautiful day on a sweet route with lots of cake afterwards.