As many of you may know, my brother Matt has been plagued with the debilitating disease called Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) for around 20 years. Matt had several doctors over about 4 years review his case before he was eventually diagnosed with the disease in his early 20s. Seeing someone you love go through so much pain on a daily basis is hard to endure. 

Unlike Osteoarthritis, which generally affect the elderly,  Rheumatoid arthritis (the most widely known autoimmune inflammatory arthritis) and PsA can affect any person of any age.  PsA is an autoimmune disease, that affects not only the joints (causing them to swell and seize up, resulting in considerable pain), but also affecting concentration, regular mouth ulcers and a generally weakened immune system. It was this weakened immune system that resulted in Matt being placed in a coma for 5 days due to complications from pneumonia in 2017. 

At present, there is no cure for PsA and the treatments can often be equal to or more painful than the condition itself. With greater research, hopefully a cure can be found or at the very least a more effective  treatment for the symptoms, this is where PAPAA comes in! PAPAA's research will hopefully lead to a better life for those diagnosed with this condition.

So to support PAPAA and their ongoing research I am trekking through the Himalaya's with some friends in March 2020, to raise money for their worthwhile cause. During the trek I will be:

- trekking an average of 15 km to 20 km per day through unique remote areas

- Going to high altitude, and reaching a maximum altitude of 3000 meters above sea level

- And probably the most difficult one for me... staying in lodges with basic facilities or camping 😲

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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