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WOKINGHAM dad Matt Sershall, and 11 of his friends will shortly climb 15 mountains together in support of a special little boy, Matt’s son Max.
Ranging in age from 18 to 46 the group is launching its challenge with a gentle ramble for family and friends in Wokingham.
Team Max Community Walk in Wokingham will cover around 20 km, and aims to bring together as many people from the local community as possible, for a great day and to raise awareness and support for Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation charity PMSF UK, a charity close to their hearts.
Max, two, was diagnosed last year with Phelan-McDermid Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that can affect development, speech, mobility and overall health.
Caused by the partial absence of one chromosome, it affects around 400 families in the UK & Ireland, with almost 5000 registered worldwide.
All people with PMS have difficulty communicating, have cognitive development and mobility issues, and most have low tone in their limbs.
All need additional care to support their daily lives.
Team Max is keen to highlight the condition as well as raising money for PMSF UK.
“All of us have been mates and lived in Wokingham our whole lives,” said Matt.
Asked how the friends are preparing for their mountain challenge, he said: “Last week we did the Surrey Three Peaks, and we’ve been running around Swinley Forest every week, working at the gym, and taking hill sprints.”
The Wokingham ramble will probably be a walk in the park for them.
Unlike the challenge they have set themselves in the Welsh 3000.
Demanding great determination, it covers treacherous landscape, and involves climbing all 15 Welsh mountains above 3,000ft high – in a single day.
Also known as the 14 or 15 Peaks, it is a severe mountain test that follows a route of about 50 km (31 miles), with nearly 3,800 metres of climbing.
“We’ll be covering extremely tough mountain terrain and attempting to complete the entire challenge in under 24 hours, without using transport between the peaks,” said Matt’s friend Daryl Cooke.
“Max is an incredible little boy, and seeing what he and his family face makes walking up a few mountains seem pretty insignificant in comparison.
“Local support behind him has already been incredible, and we want to use this challenge to raise as much money and awareness as possible for the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation UK, helping them continue supporting Max and other families living with this rare condition, while also helping to fund research and raise wider awareness.”
The group has already raised more than £11,000 of its target for PMSF UK of £20,000.
Team Max Community Walk will begin and end at The Two Poplars pub, Wokingham on Sunday, August 30, starting at 10am.
Everyone’s welcome to join the circular route with friends, family, children and dogs.
For information, and to donate to PMSF UK, visit: justgiving.com (search for Matthew Sershall), social media: @maxy.boy3000, and pmsf.org.uk.
