<p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">The 'Something to prove challenge' is to climb up the equivalent of Everest in Wales. Over 3 days , 30 walkers will attempt to get to the top of 10 Peaks in Snowdonia that are&nbsp;over 3000ft, to raise funds for a 'holiday dialysis slot'<span style="font-size: small;">in North wales,</span> for any dialysis patient .</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Why do such a walk and not stay at home in the warm? As a recent transferee from CAPD to Haemodialysis after a failed transplant, I have missed the mobility of the CAPD system and the fact that as a family we could still go away as it pleased us. Heamodialysis has its advantages but mobility is not one of them and despite centres around the UK, Holiday dialysis is not easy to arrange. Ironically overseas options do seem easier to arrange but the cost of slots and insurance means many patients don&rsquo;t bother with holidays. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I think this is a shame, as for many patients successful dialysis is a partnership between patient, hospital and the carer. A holiday break that is easy to achieve improves patient independence and very importantly offers the Carer a break from the frustrations of dialysis routine and a chance to have quality time together. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have been privilege to enjoy Holidays in North Wales for the last 10 years and have found many patients familiar with this part of the coast. The new haemodialysis unit in Porthmadog in North Wales is ideally placed to allow patients to enjoy the amazing countryside of North and South Snowdonia and the beaches of the Llyn Peninsular and Anglesey. It offers something for young or old and has all styles of hospitality and therefore is a wonderful place to visit at any time of year. Only 2 hrs by car from Manchester it is easily accessible, especially if the patient needs to return home quickly. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">This charity walk hopes to make the North Wales Health Authority aware of patient interest in Holiday Dialysis in its area and to allow us to arrange a Holiday dialysis slot in addition to its commitment to local patients. It will also show the Manchester Trusts that as patients, holiday dialysis is an important part of life on dialysis and finally to Kidney patients that are struggling with the concept of dialysis, the walk shows you that dialysis can make you well enough to achieve things, even if they are not quite as mad as this challenge.</span></p> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">&nbsp;</p> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">&nbsp;</p>