'Hero' Mum with Parkinson's to climb Mount Fuji for 70th birthday to raise money for charity
A 70-year-old Mum with Parkinson’s is climbing Mount Fuji to raise money for a charity funding research to cure the disease.
Maura Ward, from Northern Ireland, was diagnosed with the illness in 2012 after noticing a tremor in her leg.
But, according to her son Johnny, Maura used her diagnosis as a motivation to ‘live life for the moment’.
Johnny, who will tackle the 3,776 metre climb with his mum, has started a campaign about their trip to raise money for the Cure Parkinson’s Trust.
He told Yahoo News UK: “For a normal 70-year-old to climb Fuji that would be tough, but for a 70-year-old with Parkinson’s this is like her Everest.
“I think she’s feeling the pressure about raising the money, and knowing the she can’t fail but she’s really looking forward to it and I know she won’t give up.”
Since her diagnoses Maura has joined Johnny, a travel blogger who has visited every country in the world, on a number of trips, including backpacking through Baghdad last year.
“She’s very young at heart, I know it’s a cliche but when someone’s genuinely young at heart you understand what that really represents,” Johnny said.
“She doesn’t want to sit and watch Jeremy Kyle she wants to get out and live her life.
“I feel so proud it can make me cry. I think about it every day. She’s really going for it.”
Maura raised Johnny and his sister as a single parent in Northern Ireland, relying on welfare and working two jobs.
Her son describes her as a ‘really amazing, selfless person’ who ‘sacrificed everything’ for her family.
After she found out she had Parkinson’s, Maura turned vegetarian and started going to the gym to improve her fitness.
On her 65th birthday she completed a skydive to raise money for a Parkinson’s charity, raising more than £3,500.
Maura and Johnny will climb Mount Fuji in July next year, and will tackle the ascent over two days, waking up at 1am to reach the summit.
They are also hoping that others will join them on the climb and trip to Japan, hopefully raising more money for the Cure Parkinson’s Trust.
To donate to the appeal, visit gofundme.com/climbing-mount-fuji-at-70-with-Parkinsons.
