A DETERMINED dad-of-two is to take on Britain’s highest mountain to raise money for charity as he battles a rare brain condition.
Financial adviser Greg Jenkins was diagnosed with oligodendroglioma – a primary brain tumour – after taking a seizure while driving his car in 2010.
Now the 40-year-old East Renfrewshire man is preparing to climb Ben Nevis, via the tricky Tower Ridge, on Tuesday, May 21, despite having vertigo – a side effect from his tumour.
He has set himself a target of coining in £1,000 for the Brain Tumour Charity.
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Greg told the Barrhead News: “I had open skull brain surgery but they couldn’t get all of the tumour out because it was growing inside the brain, so last year it began to grow back.
“I then began a year of chemotherapy, which I’m just about to finish next month.
“What I want to do is show the world that, yes, I’m unwell but don’t write me off and don’t write other people off who are unwell.
“All I’ve had is people telling me I can’t do this and I can’t do that – and all I’ve done is spend a year ignoring everyone.
“I’ve been told I couldn’t climb mountains and couldn’t do the things that make me happy but I have decided to something that deals with one of my fears. As a result of my brain tumour, I suffer from vertigo and become increasing fearful of heights, so I’ve been battling my demons with that.
“I think it’s going to be really good for me to do this climb up Ben Nevis.”
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Greg, from Newton Mearns, is hoping he can set a good example for others who are battling serious illness.
He said: “People have this perception of cancer – and certainly brain tumours – of being a death sentence but it doesn’t have to be.”
To boost Greg’s charity total, make a donation online HERE.
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