Hello, I’m Matt and I’m completing a trek along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Sep 2025, accompanied by my sister Caroline. We’re raising funds for the fantastic charity, Parkinson’s UK. We don’t expect others to fund our trip so we’re self-funding all travel costs to ensure 100% of your donation goes to the charity.

Having experienced some unexplained symptoms for several years, in March 2024 I was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and at the tender age of 47 I became a “Parky”. The Trek will be a physical challenge for me, providing the inspiration and motivation to keep fit, hopefully reducing my chances of toppling down the Andes! Regular exercise is one of the few things I can do to try and slow progression of the disease. Most importantly, the trek is an opportunity for us to raise funds for research into finding a cure and to help improve services for anyone affected by this debilitating brain condition.

Every hour someone in the UK is told they have PD; it is the fastest growing neurological disease in the world and the number of people living with PD in the UK is set to double by 2065, so many more individuals and families will be affected.

Due to the loss of dopamine producing nerve cells in the brain, PD generously provides a smorgasbord of over 40 symptoms, including tremors, stiffness, slowness of movement, fatigue, difficulty balancing and swallowing, etc, etc. Non-motor symptoms can include pain, problems with sleep, memory and mental health, including anxiety and depression. Borrowing the wise words of Forrest Gump: PD “is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get”, and this uncertainty is one of the hardest things to deal with.

Like most Parkys, I take medication that increases dopamine and tries to alleviate or mask some of the symptoms. However, currently there are no medications to slow, stop, or reverse progression. This is where Parkinson’s UK comes in; the charity provides leadership, influence and funding for research into better treatments and a cure. In addition, the charity provides invaluable networks of support, raises awareness of the disease, and works with other healthcare partners to improve life for PD patients and their families. As an example, the charity recently assisted in setting up an evening support group for younger, working age Parkys that I attend myself.

Thank you for taking the time to read our fundraising page and to those of you who donate, we are eternally grateful for your support. Every few pounds donated will help towards obtaining our charity goal, and provide a boost up the steep Peruvian hills!