SoulKind 4.
Seven new contributors – each with a story that challenges, uplifts, and inspires. From endurance and adventure to healing and purpose, every feature reveals what it truly means to adapt, endure, and grow.
April DeManss
Lust for life
April (Ape) DeManss, is a powerlifter, paralegal, and animal welfare advocate whose courage defines the very essence of SoulKind. Ape’s story is one of fierce honesty and resilience. From her roots in Baltimore - where she built the city’s first animal abuse task-force — to her battle with triple negative breast cancer, she has faced life’s toughest challenges with grace, humour, and unrelenting spirit.
Ape reminds us what it means to truly live — to slow down, love our bodies, and find beauty even in the scars left behind. Her story in SoulKind 4 is a love share — a powerful reflection on community, compassion, and the will to rise again.
Vedangi Kulkarni
Try, try, try again
When Vedangi Kulkarni first decided to cycle around the world at just nineteen, she wasn’t chasing fame or records — she was chasing curiosity. Riding solo and unsupported across 14 countries and 18,000 miles, she became the youngest woman ever to circumnavigate the globe by bicycle.
But that wasn’t the end of the story. In 2024, Vedangi did it all again — taking on a second world ride, this time for the sheer love of the discovery as much as for the record. Slower, more reflective, and full of connection, it became an adventure about presence rather than pace.
What stands out most in Vedangi’s story isn’t the miles — it’s her mindset. Her resilience, humour, and relentless spirit remind us that growth often lives in the places we push through.
Her message is simple but powerful: Keep trying, stay curious and when life throws you off course, get back on the bike.
Lizzie Carr
Finding my why
After surviving a life-threatening cancer diagnosis in her twenties, Lizzie Carr didn’t just rebuild her health — she redefined her purpose.
What began as a personal recovery journey on a paddleboard has become a global movement for cleaner waterways. Lizzie founded Planet Patrol , a non-profit tackling plastic pollution through citizen science — now with over half a million pieces of litter logged across 97 countries.
From paddle boarding the length of England’s waterways, to crossing the English Channel and the Hudson River solo, Lizzie has shown what’s possible when determination meets purpose. Her story reminds us that from adversity, we can create change — not only for ourselves, but for the planet we share.
Denni Karlsson
Moly. Nai
When we travelled to Iceland to meet filmmaker and wilderness guide Denni Karlsson, we found more than a story — we found a new friendship family as well as perspective. After decades working around the world in film and advertising, Denni returned to his roots in Iceland to create The Wilderness Centre, a remote haven where people could reconnect with nature, tradition, and each other.
It became a place where stories were shared, spirits were restored, and simplicity was rediscovered. Then, life changed again. Diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, Denni faced his next challenge with the same quiet strength and grace that had defined his life’s work. Surrounded by his wife Kristin and their family, he continues to remind us what really matters — love, connection, and the wild beauty of everyday moments.
When your dreams matter enough, chase them one push, one step, at a time – even through self-doubt and setbacks.”
DARREN EDWARDS - SOULKIND 4
Listening beyond sound
Dame Evelyn Glennie
It was a genuine pinch-me moment to be invited into Evelyn’s life and given the opportunity to share her remarkable story — the world’s first full-time solo percussionist and a pioneering artist who has redefined what it means to listen.
Evelyn began to lose her hearing at the age of eight, and by twelve was profoundly deaf. Her journey is a testament to how deeply we can connect with the world — and with each other — when we learn to listen with our whole bodies, not just our ears. Through rhythm, vibration, and touch, she shows us that sound isn’t simply heard; it’s felt.
Her story reminds us of the importance of truly listening to one another — to what’s said, what’s unsaid, and what lives in between. Because in that space, understanding begins.
“Listening is about connection. It’s about understanding what’s being communicated — whether through words, silence, or the pulse of a drum.” — Evelyn Glennie
Darren Edwards
Redefining impossible
The River Severn’s banks were near bursting when we met adventurer Darren Edwards for a mini kayak adventure — a fitting backdrop for someone who has spent the last decade navigating some of life’s toughest waters.
Darren’s life changed in an instant during a climbing accident that left him permanently paralysed from the chest down - but what followed was not just recovery, but reinvention. Refusing to be defined by circumstance, he has redefined his identity through challenge, purpose, and an unwavering belief in possibility.
From adaptive expeditions to world-first endurance challenges, Darren continues to push the limits of what courage looks like — not in the absence of fear, but in spite of it. Supported by a strong network and driven by a desire to lift others with him, he shows that adversity can mark the beginning of an entirely new chapter.
Poppy Eyre
Elephant in the room
“Cut yourself some slack”, a simple phrase, yet one that captures the heart of Poppy Eyre’s story. Poppy shares her powerful journey from silence to strength — transforming personal trauma into advocacy and hope. Her honesty shines a light on the realities of child sexual abuse, but also on the healing that becomes possible when survivors are believed, supported, and heard.
Through her campaigning and fundraising, Poppy is helping to change how we talk about CSA — reminding us that vulnerability, when met with compassion, can be a catalyst for change. That courage is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, empathy and understanding can grow — and that storytelling itself can be a form of healing.