Last year my Dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). Dementia with Lewy Body (DLB) shares mental symptoms with Alzheimer's disease and motor symptoms with Parkinson's disease. For that reason it is often misdiagnosed. Accurate diagnosis is essential for successful treatment of DLB, as sufferers are highly sensitive to certain drugs that can worsen unpleasant symptoms or even be fatal. So raising awareness of the disease and supporting research is very important.

 

My Dad has always been a strong role model for me and I have inherited his fantastic, fighting attitude to life, however even the most brave can struggle when faced with an incurable and debilitating disease. I want to remind my Dad that he bought me up to believe that nothing was too difficult to overcome, nothing was ever out of reach and that life is always worth fighting for.

Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcanic mountain in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania. It is the highest free-standing mountain in the world at 5,895 metres (or 19,341 feet) above sea level. Though the climb is technically not as challenging as climbing the high peaks of the Himalayas, at 531m higher than Everest Base Camp Kilimanjaro’s high elevation, low temperature and occasional high winds make it a very challenging trek. Acclimatisation is essential, and even the most experienced trekkers suffer some degree of altitude sickness.

So Dad, this one’s for you. You have your battle to fight and I have my mountain to climb. Let’s take them on together x