Katie Warburton
Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge
Fundraising for British Polio Fellowship
Story
Most of us only know about Polio from the jabs we all received back at school and it disappeared from the UK in the 1980s. A crippling and potentially deadly disease; the most severe symptom is paralysis which can cause disability or death. There are a large number of people living in the UK with Post Polio Syndrome, a neurological condition causing symptoms of increasing weakness, stamina problems, fatigue and pain.
In 1942 aged 17, our grandad Norman was struck down by Polio, at a time when not many victims survived the terrible disease. Doctors told him he would never walk again - but he had other ideas. He was determined to confound the doctors, walk again, and lead a normal life.
Over the years and despite a heavy limp, he ran an allotment, had extra jobs and scrambled under broken cars, with a philosophy that "there's always someone worse off than you". He saw the funny side of everything and made people laugh with him.
We sadly lost Gramps in March this year at the ripe old age of 91. But he leaves us with a mantra of living positively in adversity. He had a great love of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, and for this reason we'll be hiking the 24 miles and ascending all 5,400ft! of Pen-Y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough for the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge in the middle of August in his memory. To complete the challenge we have to come in under 12 hours, so we're obviously aiming for the 10-11 hour mark!
The British Polio Fellowship makes a real difference in helping people living with this neurological condition. Thank you for your kind donation.
Katie and Helen x
In 1942 aged 17, our grandad Norman was struck down by Polio, at a time when not many victims survived the terrible disease. Doctors told him he would never walk again - but he had other ideas. He was determined to confound the doctors, walk again, and lead a normal life.
Over the years and despite a heavy limp, he ran an allotment, had extra jobs and scrambled under broken cars, with a philosophy that "there's always someone worse off than you". He saw the funny side of everything and made people laugh with him.
We sadly lost Gramps in March this year at the ripe old age of 91. But he leaves us with a mantra of living positively in adversity. He had a great love of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, and for this reason we'll be hiking the 24 miles and ascending all 5,400ft! of Pen-Y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough for the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge in the middle of August in his memory. To complete the challenge we have to come in under 12 hours, so we're obviously aiming for the 10-11 hour mark!
The British Polio Fellowship makes a real difference in helping people living with this neurological condition. Thank you for your kind donation.
Katie and Helen x