A man whose fundraising efforts have raised millions for charities over the last 50 years is preparing to take on his final major challenge for Brain Tumour Research.
When Paul Smith OBE, 65, finishes his hand-cycle from Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon) to Portsmouth on Monday 2nd September, it will be 33 years to the day since he was injured in a road traffic accident.
Since the accident, Paul’s brain frequently stops sending signals to his legs, which will stop working from “anywhere from a minute to an hour”. He also sustained further injuries to his shoulders, chest and hip, and now lives with constant migraine pressure, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
But despite these obstacles, over the years he has raised more than £2,350,000 for a variety of charities through a series of formidable challenges.
Paul said: “There is always something positive to come out of adversity, and I always feel there are so many people that are worse off than me. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer. This challenge is for them and their families.”
The gruelling 321-mile challenge, which will see Paul traverse mountainous terrain over five days, is not his first epic journey for Brain Tumour Research. In 2021, he completed an extraordinary part wheelchair, part crawl ascent of Yr Wyddfa.
Paul and his team at the Yr Wyddfa summit during his last challenge
His fundraising is in memory of his grandmother and two friends who died of brain cancer, Theresa, who Paul describes as “a special lady”, and Jenny Weller, who he met at one of seven fundraisers she took on for Brain Tumour Research before her death in May 2022, at the age of 37.
Paul and Jenny
“I’m hoping to raise £50,000 and make a real difference. The fact that there are on average 16,000 new brain tumour diagnoses every year hammers home the fight Brain Tumour Research has to find that cure,” Paul added.
“It’s heartbreaking how the disease snatches so many, especially young adults and children, away from their families. To start the challenge, I will be laying flowers at the base of Snowdon in memory of my grandmother, Theresa and Jenny, and in honour of everyone else who has been affected by the devastating disease.”
To help Paul reach his ambitious target, please donate via his JustGiving page by clicking here.
If his epic challenge has inspired you, why not plan your own fundraising challenge for Brain Tumour Research? Find out more and get help from our friendly Fundraising team here.
Related reading:
Published Monday 19th August 2024.