Hello to our lovely friends and family. Many of you will know Tess’s bestie Bella already. Her Dad Rory, who hails from Dunmore East, is a special guy. Rory was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 5 years ago. As the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, Parkinson's is a highly complex illness with numerous symptoms. Tess and I are honoured to be joining him and 55 of his closest friends (I kid you not, he’s a popular guy!!!) on this fundraiser in September. We would be thrilled if you would consider lending YOUR support too.

Below are some powerful words from Rory himself. I urge you to read them.

“As my friends and family know, I like an adventure. Three years ago, I set out to climb Everest Base Camp in aid of Parkinson’s research. It was a seriously tough challenge but a truly unforgettable experience. It took me 11 days in total, and I managed to raise almost £14,000 for research. Research is the key word here because, still to this day, there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease.

To give you an insight into what daily life can look like for those suffering with the condition, I thought I would tell you about my symptoms. From waking to bedtime, I take Levodopa which has been the gold standard drug for Parkinson's since 1970. Its purpose is to suppress the symptoms of the condition, which it does well. Without it, life for many of us would be unimaginable. However, when the Levodopa levels in my body get low, my symptoms quickly take centre stage. My entire body becomes rigid and stiff with all my actions physically and cognitively slowing down to about half. This results in poor gait as I lose all natural rhythm in my body.

I’ve lost about 90% sense of smell. My speech can become slurred which I find embarrassing in social situations. Constipation has to be managed continuously. Six hours of continuous sleep is now a rare occurrence. Simple, once enjoyable things like going out for dinner must now be timed in accordance with my drugs to ensure maximum absorbency of dopamine.

As well as the physical (motor) symptoms which are obvious for all to see, there are multiple non-motor symptoms which are much less obvious, yet no less challenging. I heard a good quote recently which I really connected with: 'Just because you carry it well, doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy’. The one I struggle with most is anxiousness – a feeling which ‘pre–Parkinson’s Rory’ rarely experienced. Allow me to give you an example of how it manifests…

I am standing in a supermarket queue, and the levels of Levodopa are low in my body. An anxious sensation is rapidly rising within me. I start to fumble with the plastic carrier bag the cashier gives me. I can't open it as I've lost the dexterity in my fingers. I look up and there's three people waiting behind me. Feeling under pressure, I drop the items in my hand as they miss the bag and end up on the floor.

As a progressive disease, the reality is that it only gets worse. Levodopa like many medicines over time stops working effectively. Those who have taken the drug for 5-10 years will generally start to suffer from Dyskinesia. This comes in the form of involuntary uncontrolled movements of the legs, arms and the head.

Although a cure is yet to be discovered, we have not lost hope. That’s what keeps us all going every day. Wouldn’t it be amazing if the next generation could live in a world free of Parkinson's? To make that a reality, there has to be research. And research can only continue if we keep fundraising.

And so, the next adventure awaits. Sadly, five years with this condition for me means a trek to Everest Base Camp is a bridge too far. We are keeping this one a bit closer to home as nearly 50 of my friends and family take on Mt Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest peak. Every fundraiser joining me in Killarney will contribute to our overall target of £30k, all of which will go towards research for a cure.

Any amount contributed would be massively appreciated. I am so grateful to those joining me on this trek, who have funded all expenses themselves, and anyone that is kind enough to donate. See you at the top!

Rory”