60 sports in my 60th year  # Live Life Love Life Stop Parkinson’s

Just over 11 years ago, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and I went from being in the outside lane of the motorway to the hard shoulder very quickly. My wife Janet though, has been a rock throughout and persuaded me to focus on things I could do rather than things I couldn’t. Since then, exercise has been crucial in helping me manage my condition and slow its progress. Parkinson’s has not been the end of life, but the start of the next phase of my life.

Every year I’ve taken on a range of different sporting challenges to help raise funds and awareness for Parkinson’s and other charities and to help the understanding of just how much difference any type of sport can make. The generosity of people has been incredible - altogether we’ve raised more than half a million pounds including matching from the Z Zurich Foundation.

My challenges have included 10 marathons in 10 days, one of the world's toughest triathlons from Marble Arch to the Arc de Triomphe, a cycle across Europe to the Ukraine border and from Hadrian’s Wall to Hastings. I’ve swum between two islands in the Caribbean, kayaked along 3 of the longest lakes in the UK as well as wing-walked on a bi-plane. I’ve now completed more marathons than my age, including a wonderful London marathon where my whole family ran with me.

I’ve had wonderful support from friends, family and colleagues who have joined my events, supported my efforts and suggested many of the challenges too!

Last year, I added a new idea and took on 30 sports in 30 days. This included sports that I’d never tried and many that are nowhere near as extreme as marathons (although I’ve kept doing those too!) . They included walking rugby, skydiving, Indian dancing, lake swimming, yoga, walking netball and football.

I enjoyed the new sports so much that I’m back for more, except this year I’m taking on 60 sports across my 60th year. The sports already planned include pole vault, penny-farthing cycling, fencing, polo, steeplechase running, volleyball, judo and horse and carriage driving. I’ll also be playing cricket too; taking part in a special game to commemorate the 250th anniversary of one of the oldest clubs in the UK. I’ll be dancing again too but the style is yet to be decided!

The funds raised this year will go to Parkinson’s UK and to the Personal Best Foundation, which provides children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with the opportunity to participate in Athletics and achieve their potential while improving their health and wellbeing. As well as donations, I’m looking to add new sports to the list to help me get to 60 and I’m looking for people who can teach me how to play the sport too!

My year kicks off on Thursday, 12th February and I’m still doing plenty of running and cycling.