Esme Moore with her bike

A 27-YEAR-OLD woman has embarked on a transcontinental cycle ride to raise money for Angel-based charity Body & Soul.

The 20,000km journey from England to Singapore will take Esme Moore more than a year to complete, and see her venture across 23 countries, tackling treacherous mountain ranges and vast deserts.

Ms Moore was referred to Body & Soul by the Islington and Camden crisis team after she tried to take her own life two years ago.

“I was in the lowest place possible. I literally hit rock bottom. I was so desperate for something to help and something to change,” she said.

“I had tried lots of medication, been to the GP, done everything I was told to do. I just wanted something to fix it and I didn’t care what the solution was.”

Body & Soul provides a programme called You Are Not Alone to young people considered at risk of suicide.

The intensive six-month programme includes weekly group dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) sessions, nutritional consultations, and networking events with previous partici­pants. Seven hundred young people have completed the programme, with a 100 per cent success rate.

“I was turned down by therapists because I was so high risk,” Ms Moore said. “The charity were there for me. They showed me that people had made it through the other side.

“I truly believe I wouldn’t be here without the charity.”

Having already raised almost £6,000 for the charity, Ms Moore hopes donations will continue to flood in as she progresses on her arduous journey.

“The programme was given to me entirely for free, and I want to do something to give back,” Ms Moore explained.

Lily Ingram, a spokesperson for Body & Soul, said: “Esme’s story shows the true power and necessity of championing models of mental health care that prioritise long-term sustainable support over short-term crisis intervention.”

To donate to Ms Moore’s cause, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/esme-cycles-for-body-and-soul