Mal, 59, has been exploring the outdoors since his childhood climbing 'munros' (mountains more than 3,000 feet tall) in Scotland with his dad. He feels most at home in the mountains.

That is, in its essence, why Mal decided to move to Wanaka in his 50s. After ditching his corporate career in Auckland and spending time climbing peaks whenever he could, he decided to make his home in the mountains.

Mal is climbing all these peaks to raise money for mental health awareness. PHOTO: Supplied

“We moved here simply because we love mountains and the lifestyle they afford adventurous people like ourselves,” he says of himself and his wife and fellow mountain runner, Sally Law.

They came for the mountains but they stayed for the people. Mal and Sal are behind a weekly trail runners club (it includes a run along the Clutha and a beer or two on a Tuesday evening) and are fully involved in multiple aspects of the community.

“Besides the obvious love of the local geography, we love the fact that everybody here is so positive and happy, I guess because they want to be here, not somewhere else - as was very much the case when we lived in Auckland,” he said.

All his favourite childhood - and adulthood - memories come from time spent up in the mountains, leaving all his worries down here at sea level. That’s exactly how he’s spending this year. Still, this project means he has spent the best part of this year walking and running uphill, which means putting his body through its paces.

It also means Mal spends the best part of each day out in the hills, away from home and “real life”. It means a lot of things have to be put on hold and requires a great commitment from his Sally, who is the logistics master when it comes to all of Mal’s crazy ideas (and the ultimate example of that ‘behind every great man’ theory).

He also counts on the help of numerous local friends who have joined him on missions up to the top of peaks around the area, and helped him spread the word to promote his cause.

In fact, he is counting on the local community to help him towards this goal, whether that’s by joining him on a mission up to a peak or joining the fundraising efforts.

“I’d actually like to get local businesses involved. Name a local peak that I can climb and if I do it I’ll post from the summit to thank the business and tag them on social media,” Mal says. In return, he hopes businesses will support him and the cause with a donation of $100 or more for each peak he climbs.

Nearly half way through the year and well on his way to achieving his goal, the reality is that he still doesn’t know if it can truly be done. Injuries can strike at any time and wilderness can be pretty unforgiving. But then again, he says, if he knew for sure it could be done, what would really be the point of trying?

To follow Mal’s journey, visit the 1 Million Feet for Mental Health Facebook page here. If you wish to make a donation, click here.