Most reality stars need good stamina to maintain their party lifestyles, but Joshua ‘JP’ Patterson has slightly loftier pursuits.
When we speak to the former Made in Chelsea star, he’s on day 10 of a jaw-dropping, 19-day challenge, travelling the 900 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End…in a wheelchair. Josh, 29, who’s raising money and awareness for mental health and disability charities, is out to prove that “anything is possible”. And, speaking from the top of a mountain, having just pushed himself up “the most monstrous hill”, he’s definitely got heat convinced. And exhausted, just thinking about it.
Here, Josh tells us all about the uphill battle he’s facing.
So, the aim is to break the 19-day world record – are you on track?
I’d love to think so, I’m giving it my best. We never knew about the implications it would have on my body, because nobody able-bodied has done it before. It’s the little things – my wheelchair wasn’t built for me specifically, so it doesn’t allow me to fully extend when I push. Essentially it takes me an hour to do five miles.
How has it affected your body?
Well, here’s the injury list so far: I’ve got a ganglion cyst on my left wrist, my left thumbnail and my third fingernail are gone, pretty much every bit of my hands are blistered, both my knees have strained ligaments and my lower back has gone into spasm - just from the pressure point of being bent over for so long. So, it’s definitely starting to take its toll physically!
But apart from that, you feel great…!
Do you know what? As much as it really does suck every day, the messages my team and I are getting are incredible., People are come up to us in the streets and on the roads to offer support, lorry drivers offer us juice and water. Just now, we faced the most monstrous hill and now we’re looking over the entirety of it. It’s moments like this that make it for me.
What is that sense of achievement like?
It’s insane. I’m just very grateful to have my team with me. I’m a strong-minded individual, but if I didn’t have these people with me, it would be a different story. I’ve hit breaking point so many times during this trip.
The issue I have right now is dealing with my anxiety. But the point I’m trying to prove is that I’ve battled depression a number of times in my life and I live with anxiety, but If I’m able to spend 12 hours in this chair every day, I’m telling you now, you can do anything you put your mind to.
How important is it for you to raise awareness for poor male mental health?
It’s massively important. There’s a lot of BS in this industry and a lot of talk. Instead of talking, I just like to do it. I don’t want to villainise anyone, I don’t want to point fingers or create hype or drama. I just want to get in this chair and hopefully, in a positive and constructive way, break stigmas in an industry that needs it.
Has it surprised you just how motivated you are?
I always knew deep down what my capabilities were and what I wanted to achieve, but I think people often make judgments far too quickly. Doing a challenge like this is helping change people’s perceptions, which is so refreshing for me because – being on a show like Made in Chelsea – you’re typecast as a certain type of person.
You must be missing India [Josh’s two-year-old daughter, whose mother is former MIC star Binky Felstead]…
I miss my daughter a lot. But the thing I get to look forward to is, hopefully, doing one of these challenges with her in the future. But she will be waiting for me at the finish line, which is just amazing. All I want is to be back with my little girl. The minute I’m done, it’s back to daddy duties.
Joshua Patterson is attempting to set a new World Record. To donate head to justgiving.com.
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