A Northallerton man has faced his fears to undertake a tandem skydive challenge to raise £1,275 for Parkinson’s UK.
49-year-old Crispin Cole, who is living with Parkinson’s, took to the skies to raise vital funds towards pioneering research projects supported by the charity.
Crispin was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in February 2019 after several tests and a MRI scan.
In addition to his skydive, Crispin raised £430 for Parkinson’s UK earlier this year by completing a six-mile walk with his wife Nadine and his two daughters Bev and Rebecca, after Parkinson’s UK’s Quayside Walk for Parkinson’s was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
To complete his fundraising hat trick this year, Crispin has planned a new challenge for his 50th birthday in October. Along with his wife, he will skywalk on top of the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, going 180 feet up on the roof to where the iconic Golden Cockerel is.
Crispin said: “The skydive was the pinnacle of all of these events and it was such an amazing experience.
“I never thought that I would jump out of a perfectly working aircraft. I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of friends and family with the donations I have received.
“I try to lead a normal life living with Parkinson’s but it does have an impact. I take a lot of medication which has now levelled itself out. The fatigue is awful and I’ve had to cut my hours at work as I was spending a lot of the afternoons asleep.
“I have acquired a stutter in the last three months, and I can’t control my tremors. I have to take antidepressants to up the serotonin levels which drop with Parkinson’s.
“In 1989 I lost my left hand in an accident and never really did anything about it, but since getting diagnosed with Parkinson’s I have received a great deal of support from various different groups including the NHS and the Parkinson’s team at Middlesbrough.
“I aim to keep fundraising to get as much money as possible for Parkinson’s UK. I really hope a cure is found for this horrible condition so that thousands of people like me can lead normal lives.”
Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, and currently there is no cure. It affects around 145,000 people in the UK, including 11,426 in Yorkshire and the Humber. There are over 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety.
Parkinson’s UK is the largest charitable funder of Parkinson’s research in Europe, leading the way in driving better care, treatments and quality of life for those with the condition.
Katherine Bartrop, head of regional Fundraising at Parkinson’s UK, said: “Nobody should have to face Parkinson’s alone – or without hope that one day we’ll find better treatments and a cure.
“That’s why we’re so grateful for the continued support from our amazing fundraisers like Crispin, whose fundraising efforts during this difficult time help us keep our vital support services and research programmes going. Without their support, nothing we do would be possible.”
To sponsor Crispin visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/crispin-cole1
To find out how to fundraise for Parkinson’s UK visit parkinsons.org.uk/fundraising
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