In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, I speak with Lucy Coppack, a finance manager by day and an outdoors enthusiast by weekend.
Lucy shares her love for the hills, her experiences as a female in the outdoors industry, and her personal challenges including the loss of her mother to breast cancer.
Lucy talks about her decision to raise money for the East Cheshire Hospice by completing the Peak District 88 Trig Point Challenge, and how the outdoors helps her process her emotions and grief. She also shares advice and tips for girls who want to spend more time in the outdoors.
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Show notes
- Who is Lucy
- Living in Macclesfield, just outside the Peak District, UK
- Working as a finance manager during the day
- Her love for the outdoors, the hills and living van life during the weekends
- Her early years growing up and spending loads of time outdoors
- Being into climbing, biking and hiking
- Her teenage years and spending time in Guides and Explorers
- Cheshire Hike
- Duke of Edinburgh Award
- Being the only girl
- Starting to see more women in the outdoors
- Female instructors and leaders
- Studying Adventure Sports at Reaseheath College
- Getting other basic qualifications for use in the outdoors
- Struggling after leaving college to find work
- PGL Summer Camps
- Doing ski seasons for 3 years
- Teaching herself how to snowboard
- Working long shifts, but having the best time of her life
- Working her summer seasons in Cornwall, UK
- Wanting a bit more of a normal job
- Losing her mum at 3 years old to breast cancer
- Deciding to raise money for
- Wanting to do a local challenge to raise money and awareness for East Cheshire Hospice
- Deciding to do the 'Peak District Trig Point Challenge’
- Wanting to complete the challenge in 88 days
- Dislocating her knee and needing to go to hospital
- The outdoors and how it helps with her mental health
- Being a mental health first aider
- Using hiking to help process her emotions and feeling of grief over losing her mum
- Van life and the realities
- Pooing and peeing
- Wanting to hike all 214 Wainwrights
- Becoming a Boobette with Coppafeel
- The importance of checking your boobs on a regular basis
- The BRCA Gene - BReast CAncer
- Starting to get breast screening at 25 years old
- Coming to terms with her risks of getting breast cancer
- Thinking about doing her Mountain Leader Qualification
- Thoughts on working full time in the outdoors industry full time
- Wanting to work with outdoor brands as an ambassador/influencer
- Thinking about the financial side of working in the outdoor industry
- Advice and tips for girls who want to spend time in the outdoors
- Starting with local walks to build up your confidence
- App: All Trails
- OS Maps
- Check out FB Groups, Meet ups and connect with people on Instagram
- How to connect with Lucy online
- Nicky - IG @nicky.walks
- Anna Blackwell - @annablackwell
Social Media
Instagram: @lucy.does.trigs
Just Giving: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lucy-coppack1