Alienated father, Kyle Hickman climbs the UK’s tallest mountain on Christmas Day as part of PAPA’s (People Against Parental Alienation) ‘Christmas Present’ campaign.
Kyle Hickman is an alienated dad from Burton upon Trent, who, instead of sitting in silence this Christmas, decided to climb Ben Nevis to take a stand for the thousands of parents and children across the UK who are prevented from seeing each other due to alienation.
For Kyle, this feat wasn’t about personal glory, but it was steeped in resilience, love, and protest. He chose Christmas Day as one of most family-oriented dates on the calendar, and one of the hardest times to be away from one’s own child, to highlight the magnified heartbreak that comes with the festive season. Scaling the 1,345 metres of Ben Nevis and battling the elements alone on this cold winter Christmas Day – while many families gathered around their Christmas trees in warmth, joy, and togetherness – stood as a deep symbol of the uphill struggle for every parent that is separated from their child.
Kyle said: “I couldn’t be with my son on Christmas Day – but I wanted him, and every child missing a parent, to know they are never forgotten. I wanted to turn my pain into purpose.”
Parental alienation occurs when a child is psychologically manipulated into rejecting a loving parent, often as a result of family separation. Experts advise that it can lead to long-term emotional harm, anxiety, depression, and fractured identities – while being an issue that is poorly understood and inadequately addressed. PAPA is on a mission to change this.
Kyle’s ascent of Ben Nevis took place under PAPA’s ‘Christmas Present’ campaign, underscored by the important message of: “The Best Christmas Present is a Parent’s Presence”.
Thousands of children wake up on Christmas morning without a parent who loves them – not due to their own choice, but due to alienation. PAPA aims to raise awareness of this reality, challenging the silence and isolation that is forced onto parents and the emotional damage that comes as a result.
“Kyle’s climbing Ben Nevis on Christmas Day is a start reminder of what parent alienation takes from families. While others exchanged presents, he carried the way of absence – and turned that pain into a message the country cannot ignore.”
The ‘Christmas Present’ campaign was actively promoted across UK towns and cities before, on, and after Christmas Day, confronting each passerby with the harsh reality for many a child and parent – as the greatest loss at Christmas isn’t a missing gift, but a missing parent.
PAPA is committed to raising awareness, providing support to alienated parents, and advocating for every child’s right to have both of their parents in their lives. The organisation is calling on the public, professionals, and policymakers to recognise parental alienation as a serious issue affecting children’s welfare – and to ensure that no parent’s presence is treated as optional, disposable, or expendable.