WHAT I AM DOING

On April 30th I will be climbing up a flight of stairs the equivalant distance that it would be to climb and descend Mount Everest within 24 hours. The height of Everest is 5.5 miles so this means a total of 11 miles up and down the staircase and a total of 41000 steps. Details of the venue will follow as it is announced in line with covid procedures.

This challenge will be extremely gruelling and is one that will push me to my limit but the causes could not be more worthwhile.

WHY I AM DOING IT

After the year of doom and gloom that we have all had i decided to reach out within the local community and see what a difference one person could make. After a social media post I was put in contact with the Beavan family and also the founders of the ’Doing it for Dan‘ charity. Both had equally as heart breaking stories which is my motivation for completing this challenge and can be read below.

THE BEVAN FAMILY

In May 2018 Craig who is a husband to Emma and father to 3 boys Ryan, Corey and Harry was at a family BBQ and that evening started to experience flu like symptoms, the next morning he was found at the bottom of the stairs by Emma after passing out.

Craig went to hospital after visiting the doctors and originally thought the cause was a pendicitus but further tests revealed a mass. An operation was then swiftly booked in to remove this and he went under the knife on June 6 2018.

Whilst recovering from the operation in hospital Craigs dad came to visit who had been suffering with a persistant cough since Christmas. His dad reluctantly got this checked out and tests revealed a lump on his kidney which had spread onto his lungs. His dad passed away 13 days later. Shortly after this his mum was diagnosed with alzeimers and the family have all pulled together with the boys taking regular trips to care for their nan.

After the op Craig did 12 rounds of chemo and after a CT scan he was sure he had beaten the cancer and in order to celebrate the family took a holiday to Spain. Whilst in Spain they received a phone call saying that his CEA levels had risen. He then went to hospital after landing back in England for a PEP scan which sadly showed that the cancer had returned in the lining of his bowl.

After this diagnosis he did more chemo but sadly December 2019 he was told that the cancer was terminal and he was given a year and a half to live.

One option that was open was to start a trial that was being run at Oxford hospital which he was referred for. He opted to try this and after all the pre trial tests he went to start the treatment. Sadly before they could begin they found that his bloods showed low HB levels and after an unsuccessful blood transfusion he was ruled out of this treatment.

After a tough family discussion he was referred to the palative care team as know more options were available to him. In September 2020 he was given a few weeks to live but hes kept on fighting and is still with us today. He doesnt know how long he has left but hes making sure that he makes every second count with his loved ones.

Craig has worked his while life and one thing that hes worried about is leaving his family behind. Hes also not been able to go on holidays and make memories during this final stage due to the pandemic. The money from this challenge will be going to his family for them to make some memoriesin his memory and to try and make their lives slighly easier during such a hard time.

DOING IT FOR DAN

Daniel Climance, or Dan as he was known to his friends and family, tragically died in June 2015 in a road traffic collision whilst out riding his bike in Purton, Wiltshire. He was just 11 years old when he died and left a deep hole in the lives of all who knew him.

Daniel was kind, caring and loved all kinds of sport. He played football for Wootton Bassett U11 team which he loved and had completed his second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do

The charity was set up by Dans parents and through Doing it for Dan they can help other children to achieve their sporting dreams and fulfil their potential. They also give grants to local clubs and families to help pay for sporting equipment and kit for children to take part in sport. We know that is something that Daniel would be very proud of.