Our Experience: Living with Huntington's

Thank you for visiting my Just Giving page. Over recent years generations of my family have been ravaged by the onset of Huntington’s Disease. A little known and even less understood currently incurable mentally and physically degenerative condition, that combines the symptoms and is often mistaken for both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. As a family we watched helplessly and provided all the care we could with the decline of both my grandad and uncle due to having this faulty gene that has a 50/50 chance of being passed down to the next generation, and did our utmost to preserve a quality of life worth having all the way to the end.

Huntington’s Disease has and most likely will continue to impact on my family’s life, and we’re not alone. Not just here in the UK where support is very much available along with the means to ensure mental health, emotional support, respite care, and so much more through the amazing work by the likes of the Huntington’s Disease Association and other entities out there, but throughout the world from here in the west all the way to the far east and everywhere in between.

The Challenge: January 2025

"Project Atlas: Way of the Artist" is a tough as hell all terrain mountaineering, rainforest trekking, desert storming, glacial conqering, rapid racing, ocean going challenge I've set for myself to take on twelve incredible challenges across the globe culminating in the summit of mount Toubkal, the tallest mountain in the Atlas Mountain range in Morocco, in the depths of mid-winter. It's going to be tough both mentally and physically in every imaginable way. However so is dealing with a condition like HD so even this hardly compares to the struggle that the afflicted go through every day.

Not only will I be taking on all manner of terrains and challenges across globe along with this mountain, but I'll be bringing direct aid and relief to some of the homes and families in the local mountain communities struggling with the much needed care and support needed to help loved ones living with Huntington's disease, and ensuring they can be afforded a great quality of life before the end. I'll also be championing continued support for both the Huntington's Disease Association in the UK, and the families in the rural mountain community long after the challenge too through ongoing fundraising and outreach through my Expedition and Adventure Art Studio too.

Your support: Where does it go?

Your gratefully received donations will be split between supporting the incredible continued efforts of the Huntington's Disease Association here in the UK, and also allow me to provide a 'Boots on the ground' direct aid and relief in putting in place professional care for families in those mountain communities affected by Huntington's. Read more about the great work of the Huntington's Disease Association and where to find support if you or or your family and friends have been or are still being affected by this condition by following the link below:

Huntington's Disease Association - Official Website

As a massive thank you for any donation, a series of artworks created by yours truly, and inspired by the incredible landscape I'll be taking on will be available for each and every one of you on my return. Afterall this undertaking would be impossible without your pledges of support in making this happen and I would like to return the favour with this small gesture of thanks.

Milestones: Making every step count

Every penny counts and makes a real difference both for the Huntington's Disease association and their continued charitable efforts, and the direct relief and aid being delivered on the ground throughout and after the challenge as well. This challenge is being self-funded through my Adventure & Expedition Art Studio (see more on my instagram @theadventureartstudio) so every penny pledged in support will be going where it's needed most.

So here's a little breakdown of where your pledges will be going and the steps that you will be helping me to take as I take my own steps throughout this expedition:

- 50% of all money raised will be going to the Huntington's Disease association. So with the initial target of £8000 set I hope to raise at least £4000 for this incredible cause and allow them to carry on with their amazing work

- The remaining 50% will allow provision of professional care to families and households dealing with Huntington's Disease in one of the many rural Atlas mountain communities. I'll be taking care and overseeing the implementation of this in person for 4 such families for a whole year, and raising awareness for continued support indefinitely too through the documenting of my journey throughout this challenge too.

- Every further £1000 raised will allow me to provide another year of professional care for these households so that the people afflicted and their families can enjoy a greater quality of life right up until the end.

So please help. This is such a good cause and I'm deeply committed to bringing understanding and awareness of Huntington's Disease to every corner of the globe. I'm ready for this challenge of a lifetime and whilst I'm still able to, I'll keep fighting an pushing onwards and upwards on behalf of everyone who's faced or is facing this condition.