Somerset man completes Ben Nevis trek for his sister-in-law, raising over £2,300 for Parkinson’s UK

He was inspired to undertake the challenge by supporting his sister-in-law, Sandie, who has been living with Parkinson’s for 14 years.

The idea to climb Ben Nevis, the UK's highest peak, came to Andy when he visited Scotland over Christmas. With Ben Nevis framed through his hotel window, it motivated him to attempt the climb, despite never having done anything like it before. Despite undertaking the trek in September, Ben encountered temperatures as low as -10°C and snow-covered terrain.

Andy said: “The trek was amazing but very emotional. There was also a feeling of disbelief that I had actually made it to the top. In some strange way, the -10°C and snow only added to the experience - it almost made it more magical.

“It also came home to me why I had done it and it allowed me to have the moment I needed to think about my sister-in-law and her Parkinson’s.”

With limited experience, Andy spent months training for the gruelling nine-hour trek. His preparation included daily walks, swimming, and strength training at his local leisure centre, which created a personalised programme to build his lower body strength. Despite his own health challenges and the unpredictable weather, his dedication and preparation allowed him and his climbing partner, Valerie Moulder, to conquer the mountain.

The funds raised will be split between Parkinson’s UK and the charity’s Mendip branch, a choice Andy made to ensure local support reaches as many affected people as possible. Parkinson’s UK’s Mendip branch is particularly important to Andy as it serves a community with limited transport options, making it challenging for people to access vital support services.

Andy hopes the funds can improve local access, potentially providing transportation and establishing new activities, like coffee mornings, across Mendip to build community spirit and support for people affected by Parkinson’s.

Despite initial attempts to raise funds through social media, Andy found more success by reaching out to his community in person.

Andy added: “The support from my village, friends, and family has been incredible. I never realised the effort involved in raising funds, but my community’s generosity kept me going.”

Karen Safe, Community Fundraiser - West Country at Parkinson’s UK, said:“We are incredibly grateful for Andy’s dedication and hard work in raising funds for Parkinson’s UK. His inspiring trek up Ben Nevis not only will support people like Sandie but also helps raise awareness and support for the Parkinson’s community.

“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.

“We hope that this fundraising challenge inspires you to get involved with Parkinson’s UK. There are lots of ways for you to get involved and support us - from volunteering at an event, to campaigning for better services. Without the generosity of people like you, our work would not be possible.”

So far, Andy has raised a total of £2,316 for Parkinson’s UK, almost reaching his £3,000 target.

For more information or to support Andy’s fundraising, please visit www.justgiving.com/page/goffgoeswildupbennevis

To find out more about Parkinson’s UK and how to fundraise, visit parkinsons.org.uk.