Thank you for visiting my just giving page. I will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with a goal to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy UK. Here is my story...  

On October 8th 2021, a group of friends and I will be completing a 7 day trek up Mount Kilimanjaro where we will be climbing for up to 12 hours a day and camping on the mountain as we ascend. 

Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, Africa, reaches a peak of 5,895m; making it the tallest free standing mountain in the world. So that being said we have a huge challenge ahead of us but one we are all so ready to take on for such an amazing cause. A cause close to my heart courtesy of Ed.

I am lucky enough to have Ed in my life courtesy of Livs, an amazing sister to Ed and one of my good friends. I have included a message from Livs to give an insight into Muscular dystrophy and Ed’s story. 

“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.”

Despite having muscular dystrophy Ed is constantly radiating positivity, never failing to make everyone in the room laugh. He is intelligent and lives life with bravery and resilience. Resilience that I’m sure all of us will channel on our ascend up the mountain! 

We believe our climb is a great way to raise as much money as we can for such a great charity that is so close to all of our hearts. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and I hope you will support me in my trek for such an amazing cause!