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Te Ara, the Path, is a four part series that tells the story of two incredible wahine, Holly Beckham and Lydia Bradey. The friends and mountaineers have overcome adversity, personal struggles, and bucked societal expectations about their capabilities to get to this point. Stuff is running a four-part series on the journey of these women and their unlikely friendship.
The world’s first woman to climb Mount Everest without oxygen, Lydia Bradey, has been climbing her entire life, but she still gets scared when she climbs and goes on an expedition.
Episode three of Te Ara shows the nerves, the preparation of these two women when they set out to climb the top of Tititea, Mount Aspiring.
”I’m shitting myself,” says Beckham at about 2am as the women get up to leave and start their climb in the dark.
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Beckham says losing her dad at just 18 months of age broke her heart, and the trauma she has held on to most of her life is what led her to drug and alcohol abuse.
Bradey herself describes the climb as “really intimating” and reminds the viewer some climbers have died on one of New Zealand’s largest summits.
“Big nature is unpredictable. It is about self responsibility.”
The episode goes more in-depth the impact of Beckham’s past drug and alcohol addiction, as well as self harm attempts.
Beckham says losing her dad at just 18 months of age broke her heart, and the trauma she has held on to most of her life is what led her to drug and alcohol abuse.
”That was the only tool I had.”
She says since her suicide attempts and rehabilitation, she is making a new path for herself and leaving the trauma behind her. But she regrets the pain it caused those who love her.
As the two friends climb in the dark Beckham shares a heartfelt plea in a note from her mother she sent while Beckham was in rehabilitation only a few years ago.
”I don’t think any mother gets over a text or a phone call that their child has overdosed or harmed themselves. I thought you were on a one way trip to hell…I was so happy when you asked me to help.”
”I know your dad would say ‘kia kaha my girl, be the woman you can be’.”
Addiction: where to get help
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Alcoholics Anonymous 0800 229 6757
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Alcohol & Drug Helpline 0800 787 797 or email help@aa.org.nz
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Gambling Helpline Aotearoa 0800 654 655 or text 8006 (available 24/7)
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Narcotics Anonymous 0800 NA TODAY (0800 628 632)
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Odyssey Trust 09 638 4957
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The Salvation Army Bridge Programme 0800 53 00 00
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If it is an emergency or you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 111.
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