IN MEMORY of her father, Keith Mainstone, who died earlier this year from a chronic lung disease, Leonie Mainstone conquered the heights of Ben Nevis, on the hottest day of the year, raising £1700 for the charity, ‘Breathing Matters’.
Last year Leonie’s father, Keith, was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, a chronic lung disease for which there is no cure. From diagnosis the sufferer is only expected to live three to five years. Unfortunately, Keith passed away after just a year, on 4th May, following his diagnosis, at the age of 62.
Keith was a well known fit guy, playing a majority of sports and was a member of the Broughton Gifford Cricket Team. However, within months of diagnosis he was unable to climb the stairs and was administered with oxygen 24 hours a day and became completely dependent on full time care from his wife, Sandra.
Leonie decided to raise awareness of the condition and raise money for the charity ‘Breathing Matters’ to help fund research, by taking on the challenge of climbing Ben Nevis – the highest mountain in Britain on Saturday 30th June.
“It just so happened to be one of the hottest days of the year” Leonie told Melksham News, “Although, the good weather meant I was one of the lucky ones to have clear views from the summit! The views were incredible. There’s only a few days a year when there are clear views from the top so I count my self very lucky that I got to see such great scenery uninterrupted by cloud.
“I feel a great sense of achievement as it was really tough making it to the summit in that heat. It was a shame my dad wasn’t around to hear all about it but I wore a t-shirt with his photo on, so I took him with me!
“The support I have had has been amazing and I am so grateful to everyone who has sponsored me. I have raised £1,700 in sponsorship and my total is growing on my Just Giving page: www.JustGiving.com/BenNevisIPF.”
