SUP and skate for mental health

Paddlers embarking on SUP challenges to make a difference for others always inspire me. When I heard about Becky Gilmour’s skateboard and SUP fundraising adventure, I was eager to find out more for you, too.

Becky, 26, is a mural artist, originally from Limerick and has always had a big heart for adventure and mental health advocacy.

In summer 2025, she set out to skateboard Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, over 2600 km, fundraising for the charity Samaritans and raising awareness of suicide, after losing a dear friend. They used to skate together by the sea in Portrush, and being near the ocean always helped her feel close to him.

As an artist, Becky has often painted murals to fund her travels. For the challenge, she created murals related to mental health awareness. Opening up conversations, creating safe spaces to talk, and inspiring hope were an essential part of her Wild Atlantic Way.

Planning her route, Becky realised there were approximately 30 islands she needed to reach along the journey. At first, she took the ferry to the islands, but then began paddleboarding to them with a friend, Adam Griffin, who had previously owned a paddle school. Their total so far is 14 islands, and they intend to return to paddle more. Their journeys included significant bodies of water, for example, to all three Aran Islands, Clew Bay, the Shannon Estuary, and Innisbiggle, known for some of the most powerful currents in Europe. Becky stresses she would not recommend anyone try these routes without expert advice.

Becky chose SUP as she had broken her coccyx and couldn’t kayak for long. She enjoyed being able to sit, stand, and move about on her board whilst carrying her skateboard, even over longer distances. Her favourite section was on the way to Aran Island, where they saw beautiful scenery, rainbows and dolphins.

Being on the water, rather than the skateboard, was fantastic, she said. It was great to feel light and to float rather than feel pulled down by gear and pushing on rough concrete.
There were days the ocean felt like ‘silk’ and others with huge swell and winds. Adam’s experience and knowledge of the water kept them prepared, well-equipped and safe.

Becky hadn’t paddled much before the trip, and Adam’s support and guidance were crucial. Learning to adapt and push through different environments was an incredible challenge for her and gave Becky a great appreciation for the ocean and weather conditions. On a skateboard, when she gets tired, she can just stop and take a rest. In challenging conditions on the water, that wasn’t possible – she had to keep going!

From a personal perspective, the trip was a way to process her grief and loss, and she describes it as ‘incredibly healing’. As someone who has been diagnosed with over five mental illnesses in her past, experienced a significant amount of trauma and lost all hope for recovery, Becky hopes people will see that there is a life after trauma and mental illness.

She wanted to show that it is still possible to live a full and powerful life even after hitting rock bottom. She also hopes that it will encourage others to keep going when life is difficult and to find their own adventure, one that brings them purpose and fulfilment.

Becky told me, “It is quite surreal that the trip is over, but adventure has always been a big part of my life, and in some ways, I feel I’m just getting started now. There’s so much that I’m excited for in the future, and I’m pushing myself and learning new skills. So, as sad as I am that this trip has come to a close, I’m looking forward to now having the time to plan something new.”

What an extraordinary SUP story. Congratulations Becky!

To find out more, follow Becky on Instagram @beckygilmour_