A man from Caerphilly, Gwent, walked 100 miles last month and reached the summit of Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in southern Britain, to raise £4,155 for charities Parkinson’s UK and Dementia UK.
46-year-old Anthony Williams walked seven days in a row after being inspired by his dad who lived with dementia for a few years and a friend’s father who is living with Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, and currently there is no cure. It affects around 145,000 people in the UK, including 7,600 in Wales. There are over 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety.
Anthony said:
“I wanted to challenge myself personally by walking 100 miles in June and trekking up Pen y Fan seven days in a row. Through a conversation with my good friend, I learned his dad has Parkinson’s and after hearing how it has affected his dad and the whole family, I decided to make my challenge a fundraising event.
“Parkinson’s has robbed my friend’s father of what made him amazing and unique. A fiercely independent man, he now struggles to get up from a chair or make any coherent sense when communicating. It is heartbreaking. Things that you and I take for granted become incredibly difficult for people living with Parkinson’s.
“Imagine not being able to dress yourself, go for a long walk or even smile. Parkinson’s is misunderstood by so many. Thanks to everyone’s support, the money I have raised will go towards pioneering research, care and support for people living with Parkinson’s and their families who are affected by it.”
Parkinson’s UK is the largest charitable funder of Parkinson’s research in Europe, leading the way in driving better care, treatments and quality of life for those with the condition.
Ann Rowe, Head of Regional Fundraising at Parkinson’s UK, said:
“We are so grateful to Anthony, for taking on this challenge for Parkinson’s UK.
“With more than 40 potential symptoms, Parkinson’s can devastate lives. We’ve made huge breakthroughs in the last 50 years, but there is still no cure and current treatments are not good enough. Fundraisers like Anthony help us to drive forward the groundbreaking research we need to transform the lives of people affected by the condition.”
If you would like to sponsor Anthony, please visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AnthonyWilliams64
