Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

On the 8th October 2021 my friends and I will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for muscular dystrophy UK.

We will be heading to Tanzania, Africa to complete a 7 day trek up the highest single free-standing mountain in the world. On some days we will be climbing for up to as much as 12 hours, and then camping on the mountain at night as we ascend. 

Muscular Dystrophy UK is a charity very close to my heart, my best friends amazing brother Ed was diagnosed with Muscular dystrophy when he was 4 years old. Despite the daily struggles Ed faces, each day he continues to make everyone laugh while staying so strong and positive, Ed is a true inspiration to all of us; I am lucky enough to call him my friend.

I have included an insight to his story from his sister livs:

“My brother Ed was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy) when he was 4 years old. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder where muscles progressively weaken, due to an absence of the muscle protein dystrophin.

DMD also affects the heart and lung muscles, progressively weakening them, causing difficulties breathing without aid. Thanks to amazing advances in cardiac and respiratory care the average lifespan for those living with DMD is increasing. 

Ed is awesome, the wittiest person I know, as well as being super intelligent (studying Politics at the University of Manchester)- don’t get me wrong, he definitely can be the irritating big brother. He’s got a great bunch of friends and family, who provide him with crates of Diet Coke to feed his obsession, as well as having access to great care and innovative technologies. 

However, many of those with Muscular Dystrophy (MD) struggle to have comfortable lives because of several factors, for example the cost of available technologies, which would add an element of independency to their lives. And that’s where Muscular Dystrophy UK come in, although there is not yet a cure for DMD, promising research into gene therapy and repair and human clinical trials have begun for some of these strategies. And so, it’s hugely 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.”

Thank you for reading my story and I would be so grateful if you would support me in my trek for this truly amazing cause! 🥰🧡