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Having taken an incredibly long time to identify, over two years ago, Alex's father, General Sir John Wilsey was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). PSP is a Parkinson’s-like neurological condition caused by the premature loss of nerve cells in certain parts of the brain and has no known cause, treatment or cure. Over time this leads to difficulties with balance, movement, vision, speech, swallowing, behaviour and thought processes. The disease gets progressively worse, with people becoming severely disabled within three to five years of onset. Affected individuals are predisposed to serious complications such as pneumonia, choking, head injury and fractures and will result in premature death.

It is a very rare disease and research suggests around 4,000 people are living with PSP in the UK at any one time. In its early stages, symptoms can resemble those of other neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Stroke or Multiple System Atrophy, with the result that initial misdiagnosis is common.

Sadly, Hetty's brother-in-law, Sean Harris was also closely affected by PSP when his mother died of the disease in 2013. So, Hetty has decided to additionally run the London Marathon 2017 for The PSP Association, with Sean, two months after we get back from climbing Kilimanjaro.

The PSP Association offers support and information to people living with PSP, while supporting research into treatments and ultimately a cure for this condition. Alex and Hetty both hope to help raise awareness of PSP and raise much needed funds for the PSP Association in the hope that fewer families are affected by this cruel disease.

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