Mastering Mountains Charitable Trust
Supporting people with neurological disorders to find hope outdoors – since 2015
Mastering Mountains wants to see people with neurological conditions experience hope, connection and positive, life-long change through self-directed outdoor adventure.
For many living with these neurological disorders, a life of adventure in the outdoors can feel far from reach. That’s why Mastering Mountains assists everyday people to overcome these challenges by helping them achieve their adventure dreams, experience hope and connect with community, thereby inspiring hope in others.
Since 2015, we’ve provided
16
Number of programme participants helped
Learn more about our people
$80,000+
Of rehabilitation, gear, & mentoring
Learn more about our programmes
Resilience: 35%↑
Hope: 5%↑
Wellbeing 14%↑
Outcomes for our programme participants (on average)
Learn more about our outcomes
Testimonials
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![Bryce Mackenzie]()
"This programme opened my mind. With a bit of help, I have achieved something that I thought I may not be able to do."
Bryce Mackenzie
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"You made my dream a reality. I cannot recommend the experience enough—every sight, smell, sound, taste, and feeling was incredible."
Sam Smith
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![Katy Glenie]()
"I had thought that my life could no longer be full of adventures in the outdoors after my diagnosis. I now know there are so many ways to seek and find adventure."
Katy Glenie
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![David Kyle]()
"This has been trajectory altering, enabling me to continue MTB riding with friends and giving me more confidence about the future in terms of riding with my son."
David Kyle
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![Kirsten Dixon]()
"With the right support I can achieve more than I thought! I have shed some self limiting beliefs I imposed on myself with diagnosis."
Kirsten Dixon
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"Empowering & life-changing. I can barely hold the tears as I reflect on how deeply I have been cared for and supported in my disability and pathway back to the outdoors journey."
Raffaela Dragani
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"Mastering Mountains helped me accept & open up about my diagnosis, showing me that setbacks aren't the end but part of the journey - and that I can still embrace adventure in my own way."
Steph Nierstenhoefer
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"Mastering Mountains has changed my life – I now have goals and aspirations that I never imagined were possible."
Jodie Leqeta
Learn more
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Our vision
We believe in the power of hope. More than anything, we want people diagnosed with neurological conditions to experience hope by getting outdoors and working toward a goal.
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Our services
We help people work toward their adventure goals, building on their strengths to experience hope, connection to community and positive life-long change along the way.
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Our programmes
Each year, Mastering Mountains offers our services for free, along with funded access to rehabilitation services, to a select number of people with neurolocial disorders.
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Stories of change
Mastering Mountains changes lives. Hear from some of our inspiring programme participants and community members who challenged themselves to get back into the outdoors.
Katy’s Story - 2020 Grant Recipient
Give the gift of hope
Our mission is to empower New Zealanders with neurological conditions to experience connection, positive change, and hope through outdoor adventure. As a charitable trust, we rely on donations to do our work. With your support, we can continue helping people find hope again.
Our Partners
Mastering Mountains is grateful for the generosity and support of these organisations. We are proud to be associated with them.
Latest News
Raffaela Dragani has functional neurological disorder (FND). She courageously shares her unexpected journey over the past 18 months. In particular, she talks about what it looks like to stay grounded when life shakes up your sense of stability.