On the 6th August, I'm climbing Snowdon with two of my close friends.

Now, some people might look at that and think, "Sounds like a nice day out."

They're not wrong.

But for me, it's a little bit more than that.

I'm 21 years old and I live with Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1).

It's a muscle-wasting condition that affects people in different ways and can impact muscles, mobility, energy levels, and other parts of the body as it progresses. It's something I'll live with for the rest of my life, and right now there is still no cure. Research is making progress, but more funding is desperately needed to develop treatments and improve outcomes for people like me.

One of my favourite things to do is get outdoors. I love hiking, walking, and exploring places with friends.

But DM1 means there's no guarantee I'll always be able to do the things I enjoy as I can today.

So when the opportunity came up to climb Snowdon, I didn't want to wait.

I didn't want to put it off until next year.

I didn't want to wait for the "perfect moment."

Because the truth is, when you live with a progressive condition, you learn that time matters.

And sometimes you just have to say:

Why wait? Let's do it now.

Of course, reaching the summit would be an amazing personal achievement.

But if I'm going to put myself through several hours of climbing a mountain, getting blisters, questioning my life choices halfway up, and listening to my mates tell me it'll all be "worth it in the end"...

I figured I should do it for something bigger than myself.

That's why I'm raising money for Muscular Dystrophy UK.

MDUK has helped me understand my condition, access information, and learn more about living with DM1. They also support thousands of people and families affected by muscular dystrophy and fund vital research into potential treatments and future cures.

Before I was diagnosed, I'd never heard of Myotonic Dystrophy.

Most people haven't.

That's one of the biggest challenges.

DM1 isn't always obvious from the outside, but it affects thousands of people and is one of the most common forms of adult muscular dystrophy. It causes progressive muscle weakness and can also affect other body systems, including the heart and lungs.

The more awareness we create, the more support, understanding, and funding can be directed towards research.

And right now, research is giving real hope. Scientists and clinicians are working on new therapies and clinical trials designed to slow, halt, or potentially reverse aspects of the condition in the future.

That hope only exists because people donate, fundraise, and support organisations like Muscular Dystrophy UK.

If you're able to donate, I'd be incredibly grateful.

Every pound helps fund research, support families, and raise awareness for muscular dystrophy.

And if donating isn't possible, please consider sharing my story.

Honestly, raising awareness is almost as important as raising money.

The more people who know about DM1, the better.

What Happens on the Day?

Good question.

Best-case scenario: you see three very happy lads standing on top of Snowdon celebrating.

Worst-case scenario: you see three exhausted lads wondering whose idea this was in the first place.

Either way, I'll be filming the whole thing, so there should be plenty of entertainment along the way.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

This challenge has come around quickly, and the timeline is short, but that's also part of the reason I'm doing it.

Living with DM1 has taught me that opportunities don't always arrive when it's convenient.

Sometimes they simply arrive.

And when they do, you grab them with both hands and give them everything you've got.

So on 6th August, that's exactly what I'm going to do.

One mountain. One challenge. One cause that means everything to me.

Thank you for your support.

– Alex 🏔️💙