Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. I am climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on the 8th October 2021 to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy UK and I'd appreciate you taking a few moments to read my story...

In October next year, myself, my cousin Olivia and our friends Charlotte, Taylor and Tierney are going to complete a 7 day trek up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa - the highest freestanding mountain in the world! We will be climbing for up to 12 hours on some days and camping on the mountain as we ascend...

You might think we are a little bit crazy to take this on, as I know this is not most people's ideal trip, but it is all for an amazing cause! During lockdown, myself and my cousin Olivia, decided that we wanted to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy UK by pushing ourselves well outside our comfort zone, and we initially set upon completing a Bungee Jump this year in 2020 but due to restrictions, we decided to set our sights even higher (literally!) and postpone our attempt to fundraise, by making sure we completed something even more spectacular next year in 2021!

We have chosen to fundraise for Muscular Dystrophy UK because my cousin Ed, was diagnosed with a very rare form of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder where muscles progressively degenerate and weaken, due to an absence of the muscle protein dystrophin.

Although there are many difficult times, Ed has an extremely loving, supportive network and access to the best possible care and innovative technologies. However, many of those with Muscular Dystrophy (MD) struggle to have comfortable lives, due to the cost of available technologies and care; that would enable them to be as independent as possible. There is currently no cure for DMD, but there has been promising research into gene therapy and repair and human clinical trials have begun for some of these strategies. Therefore, I think it is important to raise awareness of the challenges those living with MD face and to raise money to fund new research, increase quality of life and provide access to new treatments, welfare support and specialist healthcare!

Despite having DMD Ed is one of the most brave, inspiring and positive people I know, and I am honoured to call him by brother. I am so proud of how far he has come, and I am so grateful to have such a loving cousin in my life, who never fails to make me laugh, and continues to live life without limits. He tackles life's challenges head on, and so I am completing this trek up Mt. Kilimanjaro as I think it is a great way to raise as much money as possible for a charity very close to his and my own heart.

Thanks for taking time to read my story and I hope you will support me in my trek for a great cause!

http://www.musculardystrophyuk.org/