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🏔️ Everest Base Camp for NASS – Raising Awareness of Ankylosing Spondylitis

I have just landed in Lukla, Nepal, ready to embark on my 12 day trek to Everest Base Camp at 5364 meters.

I’m taking on this challenge not only as a personal goal, but to use the journey to raise awareness of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and support the National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (NASS).

What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?

AS is a chronic autoimmune and inflammatory disease that primarily affects the spine and other joints. It can cause pain, stiffness, fatigue and restricted movement and, over time, can lead to permanent changes and fusion of the spine.

Despite affecting around 1 in 200 people in the UK, AS remains poorly understood and can be difficult to diagnose. The average time to receive a diagnosis of axial SpA/AS is currently around 8.5 years.

That is an incredibly long time to live with symptoms without knowing what is wrong or receiving the right support.

This is why awareness matters. The more people who understand AS — patients, families, GPs, physiotherapists, rheumatologists and other healthcare professionals — the better the chances of recognising it and getting people the right support sooner.

What does NASS do?

NASS plays a vital role in bringing the AS community together.

It provides information, education and practical support to people living with AS, while creating communities where patients can meet and support others who understand what living with the condition is like.

NASS also works with healthcare professionals, providing education and resources to improve understanding, diagnosis and care. It engages with the wider medical and pharmaceutical community, ensuring that the patient voice is represented in discussions around treatments, research and healthcare services.

At a local level, NASS branches provide something equally valuable — community and practical support. The NASS Camden branch, which I particularly want to support, provides physiotherapy sessions for people living with AS, helping members maintain mobility, strength and flexibility.

By helping people manage their condition, stay active and maintain their mobility, NASS enables people living with AS to continue leading active, independent and productive lives, contributing positively to their families, communities and society — both economically and socially.

Where will the money go?

My primary aim with this trek is awareness, but if you would also like to support the cause financially, I would be extremely grateful.

Funds raised through this page will be used by the NASS Camden branch to support its physiotherapy sessions and activities for people living with AS.

If the funds raised exceed the current needs of the Camden branch, any surplus will, at the discretion of the Camden branch committee, be allocated to NASS Head Office to support its wider charitable work for people living with axial SpA.

Why Everest Base Camp?

For me, this trek is about more than reaching Everest Base Camp.

Living with AS has taught me the importance of movement, staying active and not allowing the condition to define what you can achieve.

So, as I walk from Lukla towards Everest Base Camp, I hope I can use this journey to shine a little more light on a condition that far too few people know about.

If you know someone with persistent back pain or stiffness — particularly if it started when they were younger — please take a moment to learn about AS and axial SpA. Early recognition and appropriate treatment can make a real difference.

You can help simply by sharing and spreading awareness

If you are unable to donate, please don’t worry — sharing this page is just as valuable to me.

My biggest hope is that this trek will help more people understand AS. Please forward or share this page with your friends, family and colleagues. You never know who might see it, recognise the symptoms in themselves or someone they know, and seek help as a result.

And if you would like to donate, every contribution will be hugely appreciated and will help support people living with AS.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, for helping me spread awareness, and for supporting people living with AS.

Ones step at a time. 🏔️🙏

Lukla → Namche → Tengboche → Dingboche → Lobuche → Everest Base Camp