Top of Mount Snowdon in centre. Thomas Walsh 2016.

During the way up Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in England and Wales (it would’ve been the highest in Great Britain had Scotland gained Independence, just a side thought) there were at least 2 times when I thought I couldn’t go on. That I’d stupidly over-faced myself and that I’d have to turn back and trudge back to the car park, beaten, depressed, humiliated. That in reality if I couldn’t climb up this there was next to no hope of me getting to Everest Base Camp. I’ve learnt one thing about myself over the last 14 years – I am resilient. The clouds had drawn in and the summit, about another hour away, looked gloomy and distant. It had become cold and I was making mistakes, not concentrating, swearing and becoming increasingly angrier with myself. I do this. I go into self-hatred easily when I can’t do something, like run up a mountain anymore. Those days are gone. But I could and I would get to the bloody top on this day. So I did it.

Near the Summit. Thomas Walsh 2016.

The summit was unimpressive due to the fog, the bitter cold wind, the damp and all the other people there. There was no view. But I’d done it and I was elated. The next moments weren’t so good and as the adrenaline in my body subsided I realised I was in severe pain. The toes on my weak foot had been clawing all the way up and the exertion of getting to the top had caused the nails to rub on the skin of the next toe. I was in absolute agony and elation rapidly turned to despair when I realised I would have to get down. Every step I took was torture and so I sat down and took the boot off expecting to find a bloody mess of nail, chaffed skin an sock. Nothing. Just a bit of redness. I had to peel the offending bit of nail off and try to hobble down. It took 6 hours to get down, 2 more than it took to get up. I was destroyed. It was probably the single hardest thing I’ve had to do in my life, without sounding dramatic about it and it took me a full week to recover.

The title of this blog is a little misleading. I’m not exactly terrified (that word was used to get YOU to read this and possibly donate your hard earned money to my cause) more like confidently nervous. After Snowdon I’m convinced that I can get to Everest Base Camp but I’ll need to be in better shape both physically and mentally. In fact I’m convinced the mental side is more important. I think the most difficult thing about doing EBC will be the altitude but going slower could actually aid me with the acclimatisation.

On the descent. Thomas Walsh 2016.

Snowdon was a marker. Despite it being so arduous it proved to me that I am capable of walking 6+ hours per day over varying terrain. Now the real training starts, the mental side and the cardiovascular work to ensure that I can cope with hiking at 5000 metres. And of course making sure my toenails are short enough.

By doing Everest Base Camp I’m raising money for The Walton Centre Charity. It’s the only specialist neurological centre in the country and I was lucky enough to have been treated there after my head injury. Here’s the link to my fundraising page and please remember that no donation is too small and ALL money goes to The Walton Centre Charity. Currently I have 12% of my target of £1000.

Our charity benefits patients at The Walton Centre by providing extra equipment; facilities; research; and enhanced staff training. Our Home from Home Fund supports the provision of Relatives’ Accommodation for families whose loved ones are receiving lifesaving treatment at The Walton Centre.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Thomas-Walsh8

Thanks.

I’ve signed up to do the trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal this October. For any normal human being this would be a difficult but not impossible venture, I am however disabled owing to a serious head injury in December 2001 aged 22 that paralysed my right arm and leg. Even after almost 15 years of living with a disability I find it hard to write paralysis and even harder to spell it. The incident, which I won’t go into, initially threatened to end my life and I was placed in a medically-induced coma for 3 weeks to let the swelling in my brain reduce. As I came round at Christmas 2001 I discovered that I couldn’t move my right arm or leg, I also lost the ability to speak, something which took many painful and frustrating months to recover. After spending 7 long and arduous months in a rehabilitation facility in Liverpool learning to walk and talk again I was released into the world. It did not however turn out that well and dealing with the trauma and stress of being newly disabled was too much and I slowly started sinking. I’m not going into that here, but needless to say it was a very difficult time that lasted many years. I wouldn’t go as far as to say I am fully adjusted to having a disability, but there is a saying that goes ‘adapt or perish’ and I’ve gone for the former.

The Annapurna Range, Himalayas in Nepal. Thomas Walsh 2015

This blog is primarily to document the preparation and execution of the trek, also to raise awareness of head injury. I am asking for sponsorship and the money will be donated to The Walton Centre NHS Trust, the place that literally saved my life. The care and rehabilitation that I received (on the NHS) was excellent and although I left the place in the Summer of 2002 in a physical state that I hated and refused to accept, it was still a far better state than I’d arrived in – speechless and in a manual wheelchair that I couldn’t even use. Now I’m doing this trek to prove I can, and to raise money for a service that helps to give people with neurological conditions their lives back. Or at least some shred of a life.

“The Walton Centre is unique. It is the only NHS trust in the country dedicated to neuroscience care, treating people with a range of brain and spine conditions. The Walton Centre Charity supports the amazing work that is carried out there and funds raised through events such as this, help make a real difference to the patients and families that use their services”. Anne Hodgson

In Kathmandu Airport 2015, Thomas Walsh 2015

I’ve been very fortunate. Since my injury I’ve had the resources to travel and I’ve been all over the world despite having to face major difficulties along the way (especially in 3rd world and developing countries). I’ve been to Nepal before in March 2015 but I only spent 5 days there. I absolutely loved Nepal and I always believed I’d go back, but perhaps not to do this and perhaps not so soon after the devastating earthquake last year.

So why am I writing this now, 8 months before the actual trek? Well I want to start as soon as possible to generate a buzz, get myself focussed and of course start fundraising. So I am officially ‘in training’ and starting to walk more (I can’t run due to my foot still being paralysed) and taking a heavy(ish) backpack everywhere I go. I’ll also do a couple’ve peaks this Spring/Summer, which I’m aiming to blog. The actual trek will take place over a period of 11-12 days (possibly more), steadily climbing to Everest Base Camp at an altitude of over 5,500m. It’s being organised by my cousin, Tommie Horrocks who is a qualified adventure and expedition leader and wants to promote tourism back to Nepal after the tragic events of last year. Here’s the link for his Facebook page if you’re interested in taking part:

https://www.facebook.com/climbingbacknepal/?fref=ts

You can donate here and remember no donation is too small. All money will go to the Walton Centre Charity. 

http://www.justgiving.com/Thomas-Walsh8

Thanks, Tom.

Flu, or manflu? What’s the difference anyway?

So as it’s my first ever post in my blog I’m just pissing around with a playful one. I’ve been feeling really under the weather for the past few days and have decided NOT to go to the doctors in order for him to give me antibiotics. I’m trying to treat it myself using only natural products (apart from paracetamol and ibuprofen to take the intensely sore throat away).

I made a kind of therapeutic concoction made up of cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper, cardamom pods, cumin, coconut oil, milk and honey (and basically anything else I could find in the spice rack) and heated it gently. Tasted good and it made me feel much better, but that could be a kind of self-imposed placebo effect.

I must say, it feels very exciting to have my very own blog. I’m just a bit apprehensive incase no-one bothers to look at it, but I’ve been told that that is a common fear. If you don’t try, you never know I suppose!

Until next time.