A man less wise than me once said “The reward is in the journey”. That man was my father.

In order to find out whether there is truth in his words, or whether, as I fear, it is just the onset of senility, we have decided to put it to the test.

On the 3rd of September, we will embark on a momentous 24 hour adventure to conquer not one, not two, not even four, but three of the UK’s highest mountains – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon.

In more seriousness, We'll be raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association - A really worthy cause. MND is a disease that attacks the motor neurones in the brain and spinal cord, which pass messages to the muscles telling them what to do. Imagine a healthy and alert mind trapped inside a body that can’t move, but can still think and feel. MND is a rapidly progressive disease that robs people of the ability to walk, talk and feed themselves. With no known cure half die within 14 months of diagnosis, although others can survive for many years.

This is a truly awful disease; one that my Grandmother bravely fought for almost 15 years. The way that she remained cheerful and positive throughout this time was a real inspiration to our family and her friends, and it is with her in mind that we have decided to raise money for this charity.

Please dig deep and donate what you can. Anything that you’re able to give will be greatly appreciated, and will go to a very deserving cause.

In the words of the Chinese proverb “There are many roads to the top of the mountain, but the view from the top is always the same”. In the case of my father, this is likely to be the sight of me disappearing over the horizon, as he gasps for oxygen in the thinning air!

Ralph

For more information about MND, feel free to visit http://www.mndassociation.org

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.