Natalie’s Great Wall feat

A fund-raising idea for most would involve fancy dress, a jumble sale or sitting in a bath of beans – not walking hundreds of kilometres across the Great Wall of China.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Oct 2014, 06:30 BST
Natalie Burgoyne, of Tanners Way in Ansdell, who will be walking 600km of the Great Wall of China in September for Parkinsons UK charity.Natalie Burgoyne, of Tanners Way in Ansdell, who will be walking 600km of the Great Wall of China in September for Parkinsons UK charity.
Natalie Burgoyne, of Tanners Way in Ansdell, who will be walking 600km of the Great Wall of China in September for Parkinsons UK charity.

But when the opportunity came along for Natalie 
Burgoyne, it was too good a challenge to pass up.

Natalie, of Tanners Way, Cypress Point, Ansdell, was inspired to take on the huge trek after studying clinical neuroscience at King’s College, London.

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In just a few months the former Lytham St Annes Technology and Performing Arts student has raised £2,300 for Parkinson’s UK.

The 23-year-old said: “I was exposed to some inspirational stories about people suffering with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.

“It was when I graduated that I decided I wanted to make a difference to these people by raising money for Parkinson’s UK, to go to research in the hope of the charity getting closer to finding a cure for this terrible disease.

“It was like being on top of the world, not just physically but mentally enduring.

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“After being exposed to the research Parkinson’s UK carries out I wanted to get involved in raising the funds to allow it to happen.”

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, with the brain becoming more damaged over time.

Symptoms include involuntary shakes, muscle stiffness and slow physical movements.

Natalie, who hopes to work in neurology, admitted she started a detailed training programme ahead of walking the wall, which was built across thousands of years.

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Paul Jackson-Clark, Director of Fundraising at Parkinson’s UK, said: “Going on an overseas adventure is a fantastic and rewarding way to raise vital funds to support our work.

“As the UK’s Parkinson’s support and research charity we’re leading the work to find a cure, and we’re closer than ever. But our work is totally dependent on donations.

“We are incredibly grateful to Natalie for her support and I hope her success will encourage others to sign up for an overseas event in the future.”

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/Natalie-Burgoyne

Related topics:Parkinson's UKParkinson's diseaseAnsdell