Becky Gilmour, an adventure athlete and mental health advocate, became the first person to skateboard the Wild Atlantic Way, a 2,500km coastal route along Ireland's west coast. The journey, which concluded in December 2025, saw her battle Force 5 winds, storms, and vast hills while carrying a 15kg pack.
Gilmour undertook the challenge to cope with grief after losing a close friend to suicide and to support mental health. She raised £15,000 for the suicide-prevention charity Samaritans, stating that "Every £10 raised is one potentially life-saving phone call funded for the Samaritans."
Originally from Banbridge, Northern Ireland, Gilmour's journey took six and a half months, longer than her initial estimate of four to six months due to Ireland's weather. Despite limited prior skating experience and a recent concussion, she covered between 20km and 60km daily, refusing to walk even on steep inclines.
During her journey, Gilmour also engaged with communities by painting murals in each county she visited, a practice from her former career as a mural artist. She is currently undertaking a second challenge, paddleboarding 1,000km solo across Ireland.