A group of people with Parkinson’s from Belgium will scale new heights and raise awareness of the condition when they climb the Himalayas in Nepal this October. The challenging expedition has been arranged by Parkili, a Belgian organisation which provides regular sporting activities for people with Parkinson’s.
The 16 participants with Parkinson’s, whose ages range from 39 to 67, will be accompanied by nine ‘buddies’ who will provide medical and moral support during the gruelling trek, which will take place from 19-30 October.
Covering 10 to 15 kilometres each day, and overnighting at lodges, the group will walk through the Himalayas via the Langtang Valley to their final destination, the Tsergo Ri, at 4984 metres altitude. Along the way, they will encounter challenges including altitude sickness on top of their Parkinson’s symptoms.
Describing the expedition, Parkili says: “Moving mountains for Parkinson’s together is a unique experience, creating friendships and a feeling of personal empowerment for life. Those who participate will be faced with an intense and unforgettable adventure and a sense of achievement, which will not only boost their own mental and physical resilience but will also inspire others to make dreams come true and keep moving.”
The participants have been training and preparing for the trip since last autumn, as well as publicising and fundraising for it and raising awareness of Parkinson’s in the process.
Some of the participants outlined what they hope to get out of the trip:
Dominik Selleslag, 64, is looking forward to experiencing “the beautiful nature and different culture in Nepal with fellow people with Parkinson’s”; Greet van Ighem, 65, wants the trip to show that she is “more than a Parkinson’s patient”, while Johan van Steenberge, 67, wants to “push his boundaries” alongside fellow people with Parkinson’s.
Eline Verriest, the youngest 2024 expedition member with Parkinson’s, states, “I wish to demonstrate through my participation that Parkinson’s can also affect young individuals, including those with school-age children and those still building their careers. I advocate for increased attention to this condition and aim to raise awareness of its psychological and non-visible motor symptoms. I have already secured several sponsorship contracts through my social network, but our non-profit organization could always benefit from additional financial support to enable our members to enjoy the benefits of taking up challenges and participating in sports together.”
The expedition is the fourth such trip undertaken by Parkili. The organisation was formed in 2017 after a mixed group of people with and without Parkinson’s fulfilled a dream to climb Mount Kilimanjaro while also raising awareness about Parkinson’s.
Previous expeditions include climbing the highest mountains in Morocco in 2021 and trekking in Jordan in 2023.
Wini D’Hooge described her experience: “Joining Parkili was like coming home, and participating in Expedition ’21 to Jordan felt like a fresh start. Shifting the focus from fear of failure to achieving goals gave me new courage and zest for life. Now, I volunteer at Parkili because I want all fellow sufferers to know about similar initiatives that can improve their quality of life.”
Johanna, who participated in the Kilimanjaro expedition in 2017, says:
“This wonderful experience made me realize that quality of life is not so much determined by what happens to you, but rather by how you choose to deal with it. The story of setting big goals and achieving them was inspiring even for people facing setbacks other than Parkinson’s. The story was even shared in a prison, where it was greatly appreciated. And now I can say: ‘Thanks to my Parkinson’s, I climbed Kilimanjaro.'”
Find out more about Parkili and read our previous article about their trek up Kilimanjaro in 2017.
