Where: Snowdonia National Park [Yr Wyddfa]
If: June 14, 2023
How: Snowdon Climb – Wheelchair and walker walker for the main climb and then the last step on two adapted canes. – Travel to Snowdonia on accessible public transport to highlight travel suppliers who take disability travel seriously.
Support team: 5 volunteers
ascent time: 16 hours. With travel and rest days, it will be a 5-day marathon.
Ben Spencer, also known as the “Tube Snapper”, is known for his extraordinary challenge of visiting and photographing each and every one of the 272 stations on the London Underground network. This was a 4 month challenge given the time as Ben wanted to make sure he does this beforehand ataxia takes away his ability to walk. Following this venture, Ben has garnered significant airtime from organizations such as the BBC and ITV, as well as several other news channels, while also growing his following on social media, which now includes TFL, The London Transport Museum, BBC TV and Radio, Euronews Travel and Transport.
This challenge has garnered Ben international media coverage, which he has used to raise awareness of his condition, ataxia, and the need for improvements in accessible travel within the capital and beyond. But Ben felt he needed to do more to raise awareness and fundraisers for other ataxia sufferers.
So on the 14thth In June 2023, Ben faces his toughest challenge yet. After several months of training, he decided to climb Mount Snowdon as far as possible [Yr Wyddfa]. Ben has also decided to document his journey raising accessibility awareness in London and beyond. Ben said that he: “We will use wheelchair accessible transport including a London Bus, London Underground, Elizabeth Line, Mainline Trains and the Snowdon Sherpa bus service to get to Base Camp in Wales.”
The day of ascent was long and exhausting. Ben and a five person support team started at 6am and finished just before midnight. They took the Llanberis path and led them to the top of Mount Snowdon. To do this, Ben used a variety of mobility aids, including canes, a walker, and a wheelchair. Ben said of the day: It took 16.5 hours and a support team of 5. Using my wheelchair, Veloped treadmill and adapted walking sticks, I made it to the top of Yr Wyddfa, Mount Snowdon. To everyone who has donated so far, your money will make a huge difference to the 500 children and 10,000 adults with ataxia in the UK. Let’s find a cure for ataxia.
Ataxia is a progressive neurological condition that disrupts the transmission of messages from our brain to our muscles. Not just the muscles we use to move, but also the muscles we use to talk, listen and see. Over time, people with ataxia slowly become trapped in their own bodies, losing the tools they once had to communicate with loved ones. In some cases, it affects the heart muscle, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood around the body, which can lead to heart failure. Over 10,000 adults and 500 children in the UK are living with ataxia. It’s hereditary, it’s progressive. There is no cure. Still.
For his awareness and fundraising journey, Ben has received support from Ataxia UK. Sue Millman, CEO of Ataxia UK said: “Most people cannot imagine the accessibility problems faced by disabled people using public transport unless they are disabled themselves or have had close contact with a disabled person. The simplest of rides can be complicated by a step or two or the lack of a dropped curb.”
Ataxia UK funds research to find treatments and cures. Until one is found, Ataxia is providing support to affected families and trying to improve patient treatment and care.
Ben’s story is not just about the over 10,000 people in the UK with ataxia, but everyone who struggles with using public transport on a daily basis. As Sue Millman put it: “We should create a world accessible to all.”
You can watch the video explaining Ben’s fundraising and awareness efforts here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYntt-a6GHA
For more information on Ben and his journey, see www.snowdon4ataxia.comFor more information on ataxia see www.ataxia.org.ukFor press inquiries or requests for video and image content from Ascension Day please contact Viktor Elzer on 020 7582 1444 or email the Ataxia UK communications team at: communications@ataxia.org.uk.
About Ataxia:
- Ataxia is a group of neurological disorders that disrupt communication between the brain and body; the cerebellum and our muscles. There are many different types of ataxia that can affect people in different ways.
- Ataxia impairs a person’s ability to communicate: it impairs speech, vision and hearing, isolating them from loved ones, friends and society.
- Ataxia affects a person’s ability to move their body the way they want.
- Ataxia interferes with a person’s agency; their ability to work; their independence; your choice; their control.
- Ataxia disrupts every aspect of a person’s life. Then her life itself.
- Ataxia affects the heart’s ability to beat.
- Ataxia disrupts the way the public perceives people. People with ataxia are often misinterpreted as drunk because of their unsteady gait. When they try to explain why, they are again misunderstood due to their slurred speech.
- Ataxia can affect anyone at any age, but certain forms are more common in certain age groups. For example, people with Friedreich’s ataxia are usually diagnosed in childhood or adolescence.
- Around 10,000 adults in the UK are currently living with some form of the condition. Ataxia UK is currently funding research to find out how many children have the condition, but it is believed to be in the thousands.
- Some forms of ataxia are treatable, but not yet in most cases
About Ataxia UK:
- Ataxia UK funds research into treatments for this condition and our ultimate goal is to find a cure. The charity also supports people living with ataxia through a range of services – from providing a hotline and other information resources to organizing events and local support groups.
- For more information on the charity’s work and its other events, visit www.ataxia.org.uk or visit the Ataxia UK Facebook page www.facebook.com/ataxiauk.
- Please connect with us on Twitter @AtaxiaUK
- Many people with ataxia have their own websites and blogs – see links below http://www.ataxia.org.uk/pages/local-support.html
