I’ve signed up to do the trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal this October. For any normal human being this would be a difficult but not impossible venture, I am however disabled owing to a serious head injury in December 2001 aged 22 that paralysed my right arm and leg. Even after almost 15 years of living with a disability I find it hard to write paralysis and even harder to spell it. The incident, which I won’t go into, initially threatened to end my life and I was placed in a medically-induced coma for 3 weeks to let the swelling in my brain reduce. As I came round at Christmas 2001 I discovered that I couldn’t move my right arm or leg, I also lost the ability to speak, something which took many painful and frustrating months to recover. After spending 7 long and arduous months in a rehabilitation facility in Liverpool learning to walk and talk again I was released into the world. It did not however turn out that well and dealing with the trauma and stress of being newly disabled was too much and I slowly started sinking. I’m not going into that here, but needless to say it was a very difficult time that lasted many years. I wouldn’t go as far as to say I am fully adjusted to having a disability, but there is a saying that goes ‘adapt or perish’ and I’ve gone for the former.

The Annapurna Range, Himalayas in Nepal. Thomas Walsh 2015

This blog is primarily to document the preparation and execution of the trek, also to raise awareness of head injury. I am asking for sponsorship and the money will be donated to The Walton Centre NHS Trust, the place that literally saved my life. The care and rehabilitation that I received (on the NHS) was excellent and although I left the place in the Summer of 2002 in a physical state that I hated and refused to accept, it was still a far better state than I’d arrived in – speechless and in a manual wheelchair that I couldn’t even use. Now I’m doing this trek to prove I can, and to raise money for a service that helps to give people with neurological conditions their lives back. Or at least some shred of a life.

“The Walton Centre is unique. It is the only NHS trust in the country dedicated to neuroscience care, treating people with a range of brain and spine conditions. The Walton Centre Charity supports the amazing work that is carried out there and funds raised through events such as this, help make a real difference to the patients and families that use their services”. Anne Hodgson

In Kathmandu Airport 2015, Thomas Walsh 2015

I’ve been very fortunate. Since my injury I’ve had the resources to travel and I’ve been all over the world despite having to face major difficulties along the way (especially in 3rd world and developing countries). I’ve been to Nepal before in March 2015 but I only spent 5 days there. I absolutely loved Nepal and I always believed I’d go back, but perhaps not to do this and perhaps not so soon after the devastating earthquake last year.

So why am I writing this now, 8 months before the actual trek? Well I want to start as soon as possible to generate a buzz, get myself focussed and of course start fundraising. So I am officially ‘in training’ and starting to walk more (I can’t run due to my foot still being paralysed) and taking a heavy(ish) backpack everywhere I go. I’ll also do a couple’ve peaks this Spring/Summer, which I’m aiming to blog. The actual trek will take place over a period of 11-12 days (possibly more), steadily climbing to Everest Base Camp at an altitude of over 5,500m. It’s being organised by my cousin, Tommie Horrocks who is a qualified adventure and expedition leader and wants to promote tourism back to Nepal after the tragic events of last year. Here’s the link for his Facebook page if you’re interested in taking part:

https://www.facebook.com/climbingbacknepal/?fref=ts

You can donate here and remember no donation is too small. All money will go to the Walton Centre Charity. 

http://www.justgiving.com/Thomas-Walsh8

Thanks, Tom.