FROM the shores of the Bay of Bengal to the roof of the world, Brisbane adventurer Oliver Foran is preparing to take on one of the most demanding human-powered expeditions ever attempted — and he is doing it to help change the trajectory of young lives.
Wynnum born Foran, an Iona College Old Boy and mental health advocate, will depart in April on a world-record attempt to travel from sea level in India to the summit of Mount Everest in less than 60 days, using only human power.
The journey will see him cycle thousands of kilometres across India, trek deep into Nepal’s Khumbu region, and then climb to Everest’s 8848.86-metre summit — a challenge designed to eclipse the current record of 67 days set by South Korean climber Kim Chang-ho in 2013.
The journey will begin at the Bay of Bengal, with Foran, 27, travelling north entirely under his own power.
He will be joined on the mountain by elite Nepali guide Gesman Tamang, internationally recognised for his role in the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks.
While the physical ambition is extreme, Foran says the climb is about far more than records or personal achievement.
The expedition, titled Climbing for Young Minds, is a major mental health initiative in partnership with youth mental health charity Youturn.
Funds raised will go towards establishing youth mental health gyms across South East Queensland — safe spaces where young people can build confidence, set goals and connect with peers before issues escalate into crisis.
“This expedition is about using something big enough to cut through the noise,” Foran said.
“I want to help create more opportunities for young people to get ahead of their challenges, rather than waiting until they feel overwhelmed.”
Foran’s motivation is deeply personal.
At just 16, he lost his mother to stage-four brain cancer — a loss that plunged him into years of silent grief, depression and isolation.
“I went from having a normal childhood to completely falling apart,” he said.
“I didn’t know who to reach out to or how to talk about what I was feeling, so I internalised everything and just kept going.”
Years later, that unresolved trauma caught up with him.
“About seven years on, it all came to a head, and I had some really dark thoughts,” he said.
“I was lucky I didn’t act on them. And I promised myself that if I was ever in a position to help someone else through that space, I would.”
That promise now underpins Climbing for Young Minds.
“We want to inspire first,” Foran said.
“And then we want to provide a place young people feel comfortable walking into — somewhere they can build resilience, confidence and community before things feel too hard.”
The expedition will be fully documented, with a feature-length documentary already in production capturing both the physical extremes of the journey and the mental resilience required to endure it.
The film will also explore Foran’s own mental health journey, aiming to spark open conversations among young Australians who may be struggling in silence.
As he trains through Brisbane’s summer heat in preparation for the lethal cold and thin air of the Himalayas, Foran says the cause keeps him moving forward.
“This isn’t just about standing on top of a mountain,” he said.
“It’s about making sure fewer young people feel alone when life hits its hardest.”
Support the climb
Donations to Climbing for Young Minds will directly support the creation of youth mental health gyms across South East Queensland, giving young people access to early, practical support in safe, community-based spaces.
Donate here:
https://youturn.org.au/how-you-can-help/climbing-for-young-minds/
