EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE
Climbing a mountain for any of us is a mighty challenge – doing it in a wheelchair is even tougher. But that hasn’t deterred Northumberland man Paul Grundy, who plans to scale Ben Nevis in a wheelchair to raise funds for the Samaritans.
Paul, 54, who lost his father to suicide, has enlisted the help of a team of volunteers, including a former army medic, to help push, pull and carry him over rocky terrain to the peak of the UK’s tallest mountain.
Paul is now appealing for more volunteers to step forward and join the team to help next month.
The daring challenge comes after Paul’s successful trip to the top of Helvellyn in the Lake District in August last year.
Paul, from Alnwick, says he wants to inspire others: “I want to show that despite the mental and physical health problems that have blighted my life, I can still achieve something that is worthwhile and special.”
As well as suffering from physical disabilities including post thrombotic syndrome caused by a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his leg, Paul has struggled with his mental health all his adult life.
Paul explains: “My father took his own life when I was 17, and because of my own struggles since, I thought Samaritans was the perfect charity to raise funds for.
“I have a type of depression called dysthymia and also encounter major depressive episodes from time to time.
“I also deal with PTSD, extreme anxiety issues and social phobias, which have led to a lifelong withdrawal from social activities because of the severe stress it causes me. It’s devastated and dominated much of my adult life.
“Climbing Helvellyn was a massive challenge and physically it was a huge achievement due to the disability in my leg.
“Reaching the top was a hugely emotional experience, it was
30 years since I last stood on the top of Helvellyn. I took my stepson Simon back when he was a teenager, both Simon and stepdaughter Kate were there with me last year. I never dreamed it could happen again due to my health issues. There were plenty of tears from everyone. “I’m taking on Ben Nevis because after last year’s experience I needed to achieve something bigger, just one more time. I want to prove it wasn’t just luck the first time.
“I want to show that despite the mental and physical health problems they’re no barrier to achieving something extraordinary. Every one of us can make a difference.” To support Paul donate via justgiving.com/fundraising/ ben-nevis-trike-hike. Volunteers need to be fit to assist Paul getting to the summit of Ben Nevis on June 11. Do you know someone who’s done something extraordinary? Please email siobhan.mcnally@mirror.co.uk