More than £2,500 raised to help Sheffield teenager with incurable genetic condition

Ian Westwood, from Mosborough, raised over £2,500 for the Batten Disease Family Association by completing an entire ‘Murph’ everyday throughout the month of October.

The lung-busting cross-fit workout consists of a mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 press-ups, 300 squats and another mile run - all while wearing a 10kg weighted vest.

Civil servant Ian, aged 40, said the Batten Disease Family Association is a charity close to his heart as it supports his lifelong friend Russell Windle’s daughter Olivia.

The 19-year-old, from Killamarsh, was born with the rare neurodegenerative condition, a disease that affects only three in every 100,000 children and for which there is currently no cure.

Although she has lost the ability to walk, Olivia was able to support Ian on the final day of the challenge from outside The Fitness Club gym having travelled in a specially adapted van which can accomodate her wheelchair.

Ian said: "The 10-day slog between day 10 and day 20 was particularly hard because I think the excitement stops – when you start something you think ‘wow this is great’ but then you need that mental strength to get through it, and I got that because I kept signposting any tiredness back to why I was taking on the challenge in the first place.

"I was thinking about Olivia and how much that was going to mean to her and the foundation I was doing it for.”

The father-of-two had originally hoped to raise £1,000 and has been blown away by the support and the awareness it has raised for a condition which most people haven’t even heard of.

"Russell and Michelle – Olivia’s parents – have said how proud they are for what I’ve done for Olivia and they’re very grateful because of the dedication needed for the challenge,” he added.

"But it’s 31 days, it’s not a lot when you consider everything Olivia has gone through since she was about three-years-old.

"If you were to say would you do it again, I would but wow what a journey it has been. It has been very testing but all for a great cause.”

You can still donate via www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ian-westwood6.

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