Page 5 - Triangle December 2007 Issue 3

Tony raises £9,000 for Parkinsons Society

I would like to say a big thank you to all the Mark Masons in Somerset
who supported me with sponsorship and encouragement for my recent trek along the Inca Trail in Peru.
The adventure started on a cold evening in January this year when my wife Penny told me that one of her friends
was going on a charity challenge to trek the Inca Trail to Macchu Piccu. I had seen photographs of the lost city
and really would have liked to see it in the f esh. A quick browse of the Internet provided all the necessary details:
A four day trek along the Inca Trail at altitudes in excess of 4000 metres f nishing with a visit to Macchu Piccu.
Could I do it? Penny said yes, the doctor said yes and I could not think of any reason why not so I registered
immediately. Being a Parkinson’s sufferer myself the choice of a charity was easy – the Parkinsons Disease Society.
The expedition started on the 10 May so there was not a great deal of time to train for the event but the
th
Cotswold Way, Brecon Beacons and the hills around Bath provided plenty of scope for walking practice.
The support from family and friends, and in particular MMM’s was overwhelming and on the 10 May at 4.30 am I
th
met the other 32 trekkers at Heathrow
for the f ight to Peru secure in the
knowledge that I had collected a
substantial sum in sponsorship.
After 2 days acclimatising in Cusco
(3000m) we started the trek in warm,
sunny conditions. Day 1 involved some
fairly gentle climbing up to the camp
site. The trek on Day 2 started and we
climbed up to a height of 4200 metres
before descending slightly to the
campsite. It was with a great sense of
achievement that we embarked on the
next two days trekking at high altitude
arriving at Macchu Piccu in time ‘to
see the rays of the rising sun strike
the roof of the temple’. An emotional
moment after the rigours of the trek.
A trip to Lake Titicaca further along
the chain of the Andes mountains
made a picturesque f nish to the
trip. I thoroughly enjoyed the walking
although the altitude made it very Tony, 56 was advanced into Carnarvon Mark Lodge in 1982 and is now the D.C. He is a
taxing. This was offset though by the Structural Engineer who runs his own business and lives in Saltford with his wife Penny.
spectacular scenery which could be He was f rst diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease 13 years ago, the effects of the
enjoyed during the many breaks.to disease are controlled by drugs and Tony appears to cope very well. The symptoms
regain ones breath. To complete the of the disease vary considerably Tony is mainly affected by slowness and stiffness of
movement. Regular doses of the drugs during the course of the day mean that once he
challenge was very gratifying but the ‘gets going’ in the morning he can lead an almost normal life although some things do
support from brother Mark Masons take a little longer to achieve Occasionally if the balance of the drugs is not quite right
made it doubly so and I have just it can lead to some involuntary head movements which can be a bit distracting for those
sent the last of the sponsorship to the who don’t know him! In his case the progression of the disease is slow so he reamins
Parkinsons Disease Society bringing optimistic about the next 13 years!
the total to £9000.00. Thank you once With typical modesty he doesn’t mention in his report that he paid all of his own expenses
again. Tony Fisher for the trip, every penny donated by Lodges and individuals went to the charity. Ed

This item appeared in the local Minehead newspaper.
Staff at Minehead Hospital have had a weight taken off their
minds thanks to the generosity of local Freemasons.
The Exmoor Mark and RAM Lodges have donated a set of
sit on scales to the hospital.
Exmoor Mark Lodge secretary John Lendon said that both
Lodges were very keen to support the hospital as it was of
great importance to the people of the area. “These scales
will be able to be taken to patients’ beds to weigh them,
which will also be a great help to the staff” said Mr. Lendon.
Pictured at the front, from left, are hospital Matron Sue
Meade, worshipful brothers Ron Hawkins, Chris Summers
and Bill Shorey and sister Hayley Welsh.
Worshipful Brother David Veale is on the scales.
Photograph by Steve Guscott 5