TWO pals are climbing a North Yorkshire hill a whopping 93 times – to match the height of Mount Everest - while dressed as Jedi knights to show their support for a friend who has been diagnosed with a devastating condition.
Geoff Hill, from Sedgefield, and Ollie O’Mara, from Wynyard, undertook the challenge to raise money for their friend Rob Reay, who has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).
Mr Reay, from Seaham, needs to make significant adaptions to his home to help him cope with the progressive disease.
Roseberry Topping may be one of the North York Moors’ highest peaks but the pair worked out they had to climb it 93 times, over three days, to reach the elevation of the world’s largest mountain Mount Everest.
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And they decided to do it dressed as Jedi knights as a nod to Rob’s love of Star Wars.
Geoff, 36, who works at the neuropsychology unit at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, said: “People have been very interested in why a pair of Jedis are climbing Roseberry Topping.
“It’s been really busy and lots of people have been stopping to talk to us about it and have donated as well which is lovely.
“It’s been lovely conditions as well. When I went up earlier in the year it was a stream underfoot but its been good which makes it a bit easier to get up and down safely.”
The three men met each other while studying for doctorates in clinical psychology at Teesside University and as one of their first activities together was to climb Roseberry Topping, Ollie and Geoff decided it would be a symbolic place to start their efforts to raise £100,000 to help Rob make adjustments to his home.
They are hoping to undertake a series of challenges to reach the target and have already raised more than £9,000, picking up about £1,500 in donations from wellwishers who spotted them over the weekend.
Ollie started on Friday with the hope of completing the challenge last night, while Geoff, who started on Saturday, is planning to finish it today.
Rob was diagnosed with MND in 2020, aged 40 – after realising something was wrong because he could no longer lift his young son Sam over his head.
The progressive disease, which has no cure, means his muscles are becoming weaker and will mean he needs increasing levels of support and care.
The funding will enable him to access services and carers and make adaptations to his home, as well as buy a new vehicle with a motorised lift.
To find out more about the fundraising visit the Crowdfunding to Support Rob's cost of care going forward page on Just Giving.
For more information about MND and support available visit https://www.mndassociation.org/
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