For Olivia Robinson, the real battle has rarely, if ever, been one between bat and ball.
This is despite being a prodigious member of the Worcestershire pathway setup as a youngster, and an avid club cricketer at her local team in Western Australia.
Now 36, Robinson experienced severe mental health struggles from a young age but credits cricket as a cornerstone of her recovery. Today, she’s taking on an altogether different challenge.
Currently trekking through the Scottish Highlands, Robinson has already covered more than 1,000 kilometres on foot from Land’s End in Cornwall, with her ultimate goal - John o’ Groats - finally drifting into view. Along the way, she’s visited over 60 cricket clubs, each welcoming her with open arms.
“Cricket’s positive community has been just amazing, so, so lovely,” Robinson said, speaking from the pavilion at Linlithgow Cricket Club, just west of Edinburgh.
“It’s good knowing that I’m making a positive impact. When I was unwell, there were people I was inspired by - and if I can now inspire the next generation, or just encourage more people to participate in cricket, then it makes it all worthwhile.”
Robinson is raising money for Chance to Shine, a UK-based charity that provides children with opportunities to play cricket, while helping them learn, grow, and develop essential life skills. Their work in state schools and underserved areas helps young people build confidence, find community, and gain a sense of belonging.
The power of cricket for many young people is profound - but for Robinson, aged just 17 at the time, it was nothing short of a lifeline.
“I was playing Under-17s for Worcestershire before I became anorexic and tried to take my own life. My dad wanted to remind me that life could still be good. He asked me, ‘When have you enjoyed being alive?’
“Cricket was one of those moments. And he said, ‘Well, let’s make a deal.’ It sounds so crude and basic, but he told me to try getting back out on that cricket pitch. If I was still unhappy after giving it a real go, then fine - but at least I’d have tried.
“So basically, I made a deal with my parents. I’d give it one last shot.
”That decision - to step back out onto the field - proved to be a turning point.
“I started to feel the love of being outside, running around, being part of a team... My mindset got healthier alongside my physical health. The more I played cricket, the more I forgot those dark thoughts.
“It wasn’t overnight - it took a decade of hard work to get to a really healthy place. But it reminded me: there are fun things in life.”
The theme of overcoming adversity through sport - especially cricket - has made raising money for Chance to Shine all the more poignant for Robinson.
“I’ve had so many messages,” she continued. “One woman told me her teenage son had taken his life after struggling with mental health for years. She said he’d had some good times through cricket, especially thanks to the Chance to Shine programme.
“She specifically wanted to thank me for raising money for the charity. Messages like that have been amazing - they really keep me going.”
Among those supporting Robinson’s journey are some familiar faces from the cricketing world - including Australian international Cameron Bancroft.
“I’m a full-time artist now, but I also worked as a massage therapist for Western Australia Cricket - that’s how I know him. He’s one of my best friends, a deep and wise person. He even helped out with part of the journey when I passed through his flat in Gloucestershire. We’re very similar people.”
And so the mammoth, often gruelling, trek continues. With no support crew, a classic British summer of unpredictable weather, and endless logistical hurdles, ‘Liv’, as she’s affectionately known, is edging ever closer to her final stop.
“I don’t think it’s quite sunk in that I’ve walked over a thousand kilometres already, pretty much on my own - no van, no team following me.
“For the first time in a very long time, I feel proud of myself.”