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

Here’s a link to my you tube page and most recent event videos

https://www.youtube.com/@garyshaughnessy359

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 ,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.

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 in or helped in many different ways.

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 .They included walking rugby, skydiving, Indian dancing, lake swimming, yoga, walking netball and football.

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! My 60th year started on 12th February.

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! Please get in touch if you can help or have a sport to suggest!

Here’s a link to a video from my latest event ( PoleVault )

https://www.youtube.com/@garyshaughnessy359