On the 18th May 2013, my Dads battle with Motor Neurone Disease ended and he slipped into an eternal sleep. He was my hero and was loved by everyone who met him. I'm not going to write about how great he was, as there just aren't enough words.

On the 9th June 2014 we're going to trek from Skiddaw to Coniston in the Lake District, covering the vast majority of the cumbrian mountain range. It's going to be a tough 9 days which will probably take its toll on us, although this is part of the reason were doing it. Our hiking team consists of myself; Chris Pennington and my brother in law Ciaran Ball.

We'll be walking to raise awareness for the disease and walking for all those who have MND, or have lost a battle to MND, as they no longer have the ability to walk. We'll also be walking as it was one of my Dads past times before the Disease took its toll. Our trek will end on top of the Old Man of Coniston, as this is the last mountain I climbed with my Dad. We'll be carrying some of his ashes with us during the trek, to release them on the breeze, when we reach the Old Man of Coniston on the last day.

We'll be walking the entire route dressed as Oompa Lumpas so that we stand out and attract peoples attention, to try and raise donations along the way. We'll also be carrying an awareness banner detailing what we're doing, which will be in each photograph taken of us on top of each mountain climbed. We've been posting on MND Awareness Facebook groups asking if the members would like the name of their loved ones lost to MND or currently battling it, added to our banner. We've had a massive response so we are going to be walking for the wider community.

The whole route will be documented by camera and video, to be made into a film at the end, so you can watch what we achieved. We will post the link on here.

We'll be undertaking some extra fundraising schemes through out the year and along the way during the trek, all to help achieve our target. If you would like to sponsor us, please give generously as it's going to a really important cause.

My sister Anne-Marie and Wife Kim are getting involved along the way by meeting us in the Pubs each night where we will be staying, and drumming up fundraising events like a Pub Quiz and Raffles and also explaining what we're doing, so we arrive at the pub to a welcoming crowd. All monies donated will go to our overall cause. They will also be leading a seperate walk for close family and friends, on Day 9, whilst both dressed as Oompa Lumpas, to lead people up the Old Man Of Coniston.They'll be there to meet us at the end of our walk, to be with us for the spreading of Dads ashes. They'll then lead us all back down the Mountain into Coniston Village.

Keep up to date with what's going on at our Group Page: www.facebook.com/cumbria2014

For an insight to what we are going to undertake, click on the follwing link to see a brief video of our planned route. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Nd4oh1k-2Oo

If you are unsure of what Motor Neurone Disease is or how it affects people, follow this link:  http://www.mndassociation.org/

 

Thank you for your support, Chris Pennington, Ciaran Ball, Anne-Marie Ball and Kim Pennington.