A Winchester lady is embarking on a rigorous trip to China later this year in order to raise money for Parkinson's.
Helen Connole's mother was diagnosed with the condition in 2003, and in trekking the Great Wall of China, Helen hope to fulfil a lifelong personal goal whilst raising money for a very worthy charity.
She says: "Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition. One person in every 500 has Parkinson's, and that's about 127,000 Parkinson's sufferers in the UK. Every hour, someone in the UK is told they have Parkinson's, and currently there is no cure.
"This is not a site-seeing trip of China; it will require a rigorous eight-hour trek each day, where I will be required to lug around a heavy backpack in all manner of weather conditions. In order to increase my fitness levels to deal with this exhilarating challenge, I will be embracing a strict training regime with the help and support of both the staff at my local gym and my friends."
Helen has already raised 76%, and she still needs £780. She fully intends to go above and beyond this target, and will continue fundraising right up until the September trip.
Helen continued: "Despite the intense training required, I am really excited about the trek, and really looking forward to organising fundraising events to raise as much money as possible for Parkinson's UK. With the generous help of my employer, colleagues, family and friends, I am confident that I will more than meet my target."
Steve Brine added: "Parkinson's is a dreadful condition, and I warmly congratulate Helen for taking this monumental trip on. I am delighted to be able to support her and I am sure that as well as achieving an unforgettable life goal she will raise so much for Parkinson's, not only in terms of money but also the profile."
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