Kent man raises over £6,000 walking the 268-mile Pennine Way for Parkinson’s UK

“I may be the first in my family diagnosed with Parkinson’s but two generations of my wife’s family lived with Parkinson’s. I try not to let it control my life”

A former veterinary surgeon living with Parkinson’s has completed his most ambitious fundraising challenge yet across the backbone of the UK - the Pennine Way National Trail - for Parkinson’s UK. So far, he has raised more than £6,000 and donations are still rolling in.

Yorkshire-born Karl Mckillop, 59, who now lives in Bromley, Kent, was a partner at the Park View Vet Group in Welling, for 25 years. In 2016, he was forced to retire following his Parkinson’s diagnosis.  

He decided to embrace walking as a way to keep active and manage his symptoms, whilst rediscovering the beauty of the English countryside and raising funds for Parkinson’s UK. This year, after a delay caused by the Covid-19 lockdowns, he went for “the big one” - the Pennine Way. 

Many people take years to complete the Pennine Way in several shorter sections. Karl completed it in 22 days. He averaged over 13 miles per day, including getting lost on the more remote and less well signposted parts of the trail. 

Speaking about what  motivated him to tackle the first National Trail he said: “I was diagnosed four and a half years ago but, with my medical background, I already had my suspicions. It was nevertheless a shock. Since then, gradually things are getting tougher but I still continue to enjoy life to the fullest and will do so for as long as possible. 

“After a childhood conversation with my late father, it has been a long held ambition to walk the Pennine Way. As late middle-age and Parkinson's make their presence felt, I wanted to attempt this iconic trail through the UK’s majestic Northern uplands, whilst still able to do so. It is definitely not for the casual weekend walker! The efforts for a cure for Parkinson’s continue and I want to put my own efforts to good use by raising money for Parkinson’s UK’s research.” 

Traditionally, the walk starts at Edale in the Peak District and finishes at Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders; Karl, however, chose to buck tradition and do it ‘North to South.’ Overall, he clocked an impressive 704,584 steps and scaled a 30,770 foot ascension.  

Jo McAllister, the Pennine National Trails Partnership Manager, said: “We'd like to send huge congratulations to Karl and his wife Krysia, who accompanied him on parts of the trail, on their completion of the Pennine Way.  It is arguably the most challenging National Trail in England: the combined ascent over the 268 mile length of the Trail is higher than Mount Everest, it passes through some of the remotest areas of the country and the weather is notoriously changeable. It is a trail for experienced walkers and to complete it in the time that Karl managed certainly requires fitness, strength, stamina and determination.  This is an absolutely incredible and Herculean achievement and we are thrilled and delighted that the Pennine Way is helping raise much-needed research funds for Parkinson's UK.” 

Parkinson’s affects around 145,000 people in the UK, including approximately 12,268 in London. There are over 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety, though it affects everyone differently.

Shana Bohlen, Regional Fundraiser at Parkinson’s UK, said: “We are really grateful to Karl supporting Parkinson’s UK with this fantastic challenge. With more than 40 potential symptoms, Parkinson’s can devastate lives. While we’ve made huge breakthroughs in the last 50 years, there is still no cure and current treatments are not good enough. Fundraisers  for Parkinson’s UK, like Karl, help us drive forward the groundbreaking research we need to transform the lives of people with Parkinson’s.”

To support Karl’s fundraising, and read his daily diary from the trek, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Karls-Big-Trek2021 

For images of Karl and Krysia, please visit: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FJWeQd7cQuXQ3VaYx4vZKf_aP0_gquSU

To find out how to fundraise for Parkinson’s UK visit parkinsons.org.uk/fundraising

ENDS

Media enquiries 

For more information please contact Manuela da Costa-Fernandes mdacosta-fernandes@parkinsons.org.uk at  078 0101 9128 

About Parkinson’s and Parkinson’s UK

Parkinson’s is what happens when the brain cells that make dopamine start to die. There are more than 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety. Some are treatable, but the drugs can have serious side effects. It gets worse over time and there’s no cure. Yet.

Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world. Around 145,000 people in the UK have Parkinson’s.

For more facts and statistics, please click here.

Further information, advice and support is available on our website, www.parkinsons.org.uk.

About the Pennine Way

Steeped in history and traversing spectacular landscapes, the iconic Pennine Way stretches for 268 miles (435 km) across England’s wild northern uplands. The route follows Britain’s rocky spine from the hills of the Derbyshire Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales, through the stunning Swaledale Valley, across the North Pennines and over Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland to the Cheviot Hills, ending in the Scottish Borders in Kirk Yetholm. The Pennine Way was the first National Trail in England and is one of the UK’s most famous long-distance walks. Opened on 24th April 1965, it paved the way for public access to some of England’s wildest landscapes. 

For further information, visit here: https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/pennine-way/

Manuela da Costa-Fernandes

Senior Media and PR Officer