A Scottish man with a rare neurological condition is supporting a gruelling challenge which is seeing two men cross over the Alps in wheelchairs.
Phil Bosworth lives with ataxia, a degenerative disease which can slowly reduce people’s speech, sight and ability to walk.
He’s currently helping two men wheel more than 260 miles and ascend over 20,000 feet.
Ben Spencer and Peter Smorthit started the challenge in Lake Geneva in Switzerland last month and are set to complete their venture in Lake Como on Tuesday.
Supplied“It’s been absolutely brutal. We trained for a year for this, going up and down hills doing half marathons,” said Ben Spencer.
“Doing five marathons in five days. We’ve been plugging away at the training.
“It is brutal, it is tough.”
SuppliedLike Ben, Phil is living with ataxia. A neurological condition which can make everyday tasks like sitting down a challenge.
“I was quite lucky, because a lot of people who have ataxia, they spend six or seven years to get diagnosed,” said Phil.
“But the doctor at Ninewells diagnosed me right away.
“But the problem in Scotland is, it stops there.
“There are three UK specialist centres and they’re all in England.”
Tracking their progress back home is Phil’s family.
STV NewsThey have understandably been apprehensive, and are relieved to see them coming to the end of their challenge.
When asked what her reaction was when finding out about the venture, Phil’s wife Alison said: “It’s Phil, so I wasn’t that surprised to be fair.
“He does tend to say, ‘Oh I can do that, it’ll be fine’.
“I was like, where are you all sleeping, what are you going to do about this?
His sister Erica Wood says Phil felt compelled to be a part of the fundraising challenge, in a bid to raise awareness of Ataxia
“He does see he isn’t going to get better.
“He does think he needs to make the most of this, whilst I still can.
“I think that’s part of the challenge, going over to the Alps.
“This is what he sees as his last really big challenge, to promote Ataxia, to raise funds and find a cure.”
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