A 35-year-old man has successfully completed an arctic dog-sledding challenge, which he embarked on after his 5-year-old niece developed a rare lung disease.
Alan Wilson, who lives in London, has raised almost £5,000 for the British Lung Foundation because his niece Annabel has Bronchiolitis Obliterans, which is exceptionally rare in young children.
Annabel has had problems since she was six months old. “Her current treatment is very much a shot in the dark, and the long-term prognosis is pure speculation,” says Alan. “It’s been a horrendous time for all the family, but I wanted to do something positive by raising money which can pay for research.”
Alan spent a week in January on a dog sled travelling from his base camp into the wilds of the Norwegian Lapland in temperatures that regularly dropped below -30 degrees Celsius.
“It was an amzing experience, but very hard work," says Alan.
“It also changed my perception of lung disease. I used to be one of those people who associated respiratory conditions with smokers and old people when that is clearly not the case.”
Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation, says: “Alan has completed a remarkable challenge and all of us at the British Lung Foundation are congratulating him. Research into lung disease is desperately underfunded so the money Alan has raised will help make a real difference.”
Alan spent six months training for the expedition, which involved spending eight hours a day mostly running along side the dogs, pushing and pulling the sled up and down hills and over rough terrain.
You can still sponsor Alan by clicking here and check this website for further pictures of his adventure. If you would like more information about fundraising events for the British Lung Foundation click here.
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