As you may know I am currently on sabbatical in South America. Having had a really marvellous time I want to do something which is not entirely selfish and which will give the trip immense meaning for me. Please sponsor me on a trek along the Salkantay Inca trail to Machu Picchu. I will now be doing the trek from 21/7/08 - 24/7/08.
My brother Jeremy died last August, aged 42, from kidney and heart failure brought on by Friedreich's Ataxia. This condition affects the parts of the nervous system which control coordination and balance. It blighted his life from early childhood. He courageously endured numerous operations and treatments, the loss of his mobility aged 18 just before going to University and, over time, the deterioration of his manual coordination and sight to the point where almost everything had to be done for him. Every day was a struggle.
Yet he was positive, cheerful and great fun to be with. And a combination of his own determination, fantastic medical care and the love and care of his family and friends led him to live considerably longer than we had ever hoped for. He worked from his wheelchair as an actuarial software designer until a couple of years before his death, assisted by helpers when he could no longer type and read his computer screen.
The last ten years of his life were enriched enormously by the holidays he took to countries such as Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, China etc. They made him happier than anything else.
I am asking you to sponsor me so that the charity Ataxia UK can help others suffering from the condition to take similarly ambitious and stimulating holidays. Trips which they might not otherwise be able to afford due to the cost of paying for accompanying helpers and so on.
I am planning to trek the Salkantay Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru. It's less well known and travelled than the classic Inca Trail to the same destination and was apparently used when the Incas wished to move their armies with stealth as well as speed. Its around 70km of pretty hard walking up and down mountains over four days at altitudes up to 4,600m, and includes three extremely cold nights in tents. Sadly my level of fitness is as low as it was when I left London, so it may be testing. Many thanks for reading this and I hope you will sponsor me.
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