I’m now approaching what will be one of the greatest physical and mental challenges of my life: climbing Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895m), the highest peak in Africa, in aid of the PSPA Research Campaign.

Having read more about what lies ahead I admit that the reality is daunting. Many climbers never reach the summit, a few tragically lose their lives each year and the thought of experiencing four seasons in just four days is hard to imagine.

I’m taking on this demanding challenge in memory of Linda - my wife, partner, and best friend for over 21 years who passed away on 16 October 2023 from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare, terminal neurodegenerative disease with no cure. PSP gradually robs people of balance, mobility, speech, and swallowing.

For the last 5–6 years of her life, I was Linda’s carer, becoming full-time from the start of the pandemic when I saw first-hand the devastating impact of PSP.

My “Pilgrimage Triangle” began after reading The Salt Path during my first Christmas without Linda. I needed a focus, so in 2024 I walked the 630-mile South West Coast Path in 58 days - the same length of time Linda survived without solid food before she lost her fight.

This year, determined to further honour Linda’s memory and help others affected by PSP and CBD, I completed Wainwright’s 192-mile Coast-to-Coast walk, adding in the ascent of England’s highest peak Scafell Pike.

Kilimanjaro is the final stage. By the end, I will have walked 875 miles (1,400 km) and climbed 168,102 feet (51,189 m)— almost the height of Everest six times. Yet this journey only scratches the surface of what those living with PSP and CBD endure every day.

That’s why I’m raising funds for the PSPA Research Appeal, working to improve diagnosis, ensure consistent care, and ultimately find a cure. Every contribution will make a real difference.

Thank you for your support.

🔗 More information: https://www.pspassociation.org.uk/research/understood/

📧 understood@pspassociation.org.uk