Multiple Sclerosis sufferer Gill Egerton is determined to step up to the challenge to help a cause close to her heart.

Gill, who has been living with MS since 2010, is one of a team of staff from Willow Wood who is taking part to raise much-needed funds for the hospice by trekking up Mount Snowdon.

There is now less than three weeks to go before the Willow Wood Mount Snowdon Trek. 

“I’ve been involved with Willow Wood since 2009,” said Gill. 

“My dad had Motor Neurone Disease and found the support offered by the Day Services to be hugely beneficial to him and to our family. The care given to him while he was on the Inpatient Ward was wonderful.

“The dignity, the respect, the precious time we could spend together knowing he was not in pain meant so much to us all. I determined then that I would do everything I could for the hospice and in 2011 became a volunteer.

“Two years later I was offered a permanent staff role and now I’m the HR and Facilities Lead, but I’m still as passionate as ever about Willow Wood.

“Indeed, my personal circumstances after being diagnosed with MS have made me see things in a different light and I’m even more aware of how much our services are needed in the community.”

WALK: Gill with her dog Peggy.

Gill, along with sister Maria Wheeldon and six other members of the Willow Wood team, will all be climbing Mount Snowdon on Saturday 21 May. 

“Working here, we all know just how vital it is to raise funds to maintain and develop our care. Although our care is, and always will be, free of charge, it does cost £7,650 every single day. We’re funded for less than 20 per cent of that, so fundraising activities like the Trek are essential.”

Gill and the other team members have been training hard - climbing all Mount Snowdon’s 3,560 feet is not for the faint-hearted, and although the Llanberis Path is considered the easiest route, it will still take around nine hours there and back.

“It’s a challenge for anyone, but I’m coming up to my 50th birthday very soon, so to conquer Snowdon will be a real achievement and something to celebrate. 

“There are still spaces left on the Trek and if you’d like to join us, please go to www.willowwood.info to sign up online. 

“If you can’t but would like to support my efforts, please go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gillegerton.

“You’ll have my thanks, but more importantly, the thanks of our patients. Thank you.” 

Read more from the Tameside Reporter

Click here for more of the latest news

Click here to read the latest edition of the paper online

Click here to find out where you can pick up a copy of the paper