Meet Andrea Mason, sea to summit athlete

Meet Andrea Mason, sea to summit athlete.

She’s an athlete, an outdoor enthusiast and it just so happens she is swimming 3 Lakes, biking 800km and running 3 Peaks!!!!

The route is from Lake Bala in Wales, to the top of Ben Nevis in Scotland.

The route is from Lake Bala in Wales, to the top of Ben Nevis in Scotland.

This is her 4th major challenge on the theme Sea to Summit.

In 2019 Andrea’s first challenge involved:
Swimming 34km across the English Channel, Cycling 900km across France and then climbing Mt Blanc.
All in just 4 days and 20 hours. 

Exactly one year later, she successfully completed the Mt Blanc Triple Crown, which involved:
Swimming 38Km around the perimeter of Lac Annecy.
Cycling the gruelling Tour Du Mont Blanc and running 170km around one of the toughest trail runs in the world, the Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc.
All in just 4 days, 23 hours and 40 mins.  

Last year she took the challenge to South Africa, where she took on:
35 km swim across False Bay from Millers Point to Rooiels.
Cycling 360 km from Rooiels to the base of Seweweeks Port Peak.
With an epic finish Hiking/Climbing to the top of Seweweeks Port Peak (2335m)
All in just under 48 hours.

Andrea’s challenges and tireless efforts are to promote awareness surrounding female reproductive health with her charity « Lady Talk Matters » which she founded in 2020.

A subject she has been familiar with from an early age, having suffered with persistent gynaecological problems including endometriosis. Researchers think that at least 11% of women suffer with this condition.

Endometriosis happens when tissue similar to the lining on the inside of your uterus or womb grows outside of your uterus or womb where it doesn’t belong. Endometriosis growths may swell and bleed in the same way the lining inside of your uterus does every month — during your menstrual period. This can cause swelling and pain because the tissue grows and bleeds in an area where it cannot easily get out of your body. Andrea had a hysterectomy at 35 after being diagnosed with cervical cancer.

With this, it became Andrea’s mission to raise awareness around womens health, to encourage open discussions, educational material, sanitary materials and support network for women and girls experiencing reproductive issues. Working in South Africa she has founded a centre in Kayamandi, in Stellenbosch, where affordable reusable sanitary pads are ethically produced for girls and women in the local community.

The centre employs women who have been taught to make the products. Andrea emphasises “the importance of using quality raw materials to ensure that the products are not only long-lasting, but also safe to use, even in under resourced settings.”
These re-usable sanitary pads made with a leak-proof PUL backing layer, a microfibre core and a comfortable bamboo charcoal layer against the skin. Washable and reusable, perfect alternative to disposable and single use pads.

Lady Talk Matters’ re-usable sanitary pad packs are available for purchase, which supports the manufacture of packs to be distributed to women or girls unable to afford them.
Lady Talk Matters tirelessly works and campaigns in an effort to encourage everyone to talk openly about female reproductive matters and to create change for the situation of period poverty.

“The CBD balm has been a game changer for me, both during training, recovery and during my challenges. I find it almost instantly relaxes my legs and help them to recover quicker.

It also helps that the smell and texture are amazing. It doesnt leave your body feeling greasy and you don’t smell like you been dipped in olive oil. All in all, I wouldnt use anything else. » Andrea