Liam and I work together in a pathology laboratory and both enjoy hiking. I mentioned that I intended to do the 3 National Peaks Challenge Liam was straight on board with it. Liam is raising money for Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team. I am raising money for a friend who suffers from Gastroparesis (paralysis of the stomach) in order to send her on a holiday. With the help of my Dad who will be our driver, we will be starting this challenge on the 3rd July.
Fundraising pageLiam is raising money for the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team which I believe is a pretty self explanatory charity :-) - Liam intends to fund raise through word of mouth rather than online. Mine is a little more complicated. A friend of mine who I met in our first year of primary school aged 4, not long after we met, she started to show signs of Gastroparesis. With Gastroparesis being so rare it went undiagnosed for nearly 10 years. As Becki’s condition went undiagnosed and untreated, it worsened. Gatroparesis is an ‘invisible illness’, it is a chronic condition which paralyses your stomach meaning that eating and drinking is no longer something you have the privilege of. Only 1.5% of the world’s population suffer from Gastroparesis. My friend has undergone botox into her stomach, had 2 gastric neurotransmitter pace makers fitted, nasal gastric feeding tube, nasal jejunal feeding tube, jenjunostomy feeding tube and most recently started parental nutrition. When she had her temporary gastric neurotransmitter pace maker fitted (to see if it would work making her eligible for a permanent one), she was actually able to consume so food, but by the time came for her permeant pace maker her condition had worsened which meant that not even 2 of the pace makers would stimulate her stomach. She is often is admitted to hospital with severe infections which is usually caused by infections at the sites of her feeding tubes, this results in extreme weight loss and is usually followed up with a painful and invasive procedure or operation to refit her feeding tubes. Alongside Gastroparesis she suffers from Posterior Circulation Stroke Syndrome (POCS), Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, and more. Becki’s life consists largely of doctor’s and nurse appointments. The pain alone causes each day to be a struggle, not to mention her nausea and black outs! :-( My friend is the most kind, caring, positive and strong person I know and it pains me to see such a wonderful person going through such trauma. Her life almost exclusively consists of DR's appointments, pain management and rest, which is why I aim to raise enough money to give her an amazing holiday to fill her days with joy that she should be experiencing everyday.
23 hours and 44 minutes
The National Three Peaks Challenge takes in the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales, often in 24 hours.