Man with MND to scale 7 mountains to raise money for Rob Burrow treatment facility
Ian Flatt was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019.
A North Yorkshire man with motor neurone disease is hoping to scale seven mountains in three countries in three weeks - in his wheelchair.
Ian Flatt was diagnosed with the condition in 2019 and has already taken on several fundraising challenges.
He is raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association and Leeds Hospitals Charity appeal, which is hoping to build the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The Rob Burrow Centre is state-of-the-art MND Care Centre which has become a beacon of hope for those living with or affected by MND.
Inspired by the Burrow family, family and friends, and the wider MND Community, Ian has set himself the challenge of scaling seven mountains across England, Wales and Scotland in June.
- 15th June 2024 - Whernside
- 18th June 2024 - Wild Boar Fell
- 21st June 2024 - Mount Snowdon on Global MND Awareness Day
- 25th June 2024 - Pen-y-Fan
- 29th June 2024 - Ben Chonzie
- 3rd July 2024 - Skiddaw
- 7th July 2024 - The Yorkshire Matterhorn on Rob Burrow Day
Speaking recently, Ian said thanks to Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield, they helped shine a light on what is a "brutal" condition:
"It can leave you feeling quite lonely and I think because you are not always confident in how your body or your breathing or how you are talking, you withdraw."
He credits Kevin Sinfield and his former team mate Rob Burrow with helping to change the conversation around MND.
Ian continued: "Between 2019 when I was diagnosed and now, the difference is phenomenal. The script has changed and the conversation has changed. The idea that 'go and sort your will out and decide where to die' they were the conversations in 2019 and it was as stark as that and it's not that anymore."
Ian says another £1.2m is needed to help create the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease and he wants to be a part of the bringing the centre to life.
If you'd like to get involved, please visit Ian's fundraising page.