Published: Wednesday, 5th April, 2006 10:21
Agnes is all ready to follow the Inca trail
By Border Telegraph Newsroom
Print Article
A DARNICK woman is feeling on top of the world about raising money for Parkinson’s Disease.
Agnes Waldie is heading for the Peruvian Andes in late September to climb the Inca trail to the lost city of Machu Picchu.
She is taking on the challenge to raise money for Parkinson’s charity PDS, after becoming involved with the organisation when her husband, Scott, was diagnosed with the disease.
Agnes said: “The reason I got into it was because my husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease about three years ago.
“He manages the symptoms very well, but I thought Parkinson’s doesn’t really get enough recognition.
“There are lots of other organisations that people support, and that’s a good thing, but I wanted to help with Parkinson’s.”
But Agnes has a mountain to climb before she can do that.
She will have to spend four days walking, up to eight hours a day, and up steep inclines of 30 degrees.
The lost Inca city is also high above the clouds, and breathing will be difficult at high altitude.
Agnes said: “The altitude will be so much different, and you can’t train for altitude sickness. They say it is sub-tropical during the day and then freezing at night.
“But I think it will be fantastic. They say there are humming birds flying all around, which sounds amazing.”
The city of Machu Picchu is the most famous symbol of the ancient Inca empire, and has been designated as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Agnes said: “A lot of the villages are just hanging on the sides of the mountains.
“It is quite an amazing place, and there is no comparison you can make because it will just be so different. I am really looking forward to it.”
Agnes has to raise £2,675 before she can go on the trip, and she has already come up with a few ideas.
A disco marathon for local kids, a beauty product party for women, and a dinner event are all on the cards, as Agnes tries to involve the whole village.
She said: “I feel I have to organise things that people will enjoy before I take their money.
“I don’t like to ask the same people for money all the time, so I feel I have to provide something.”
But Agnes is certain the money she raises will be put to good use.
She said: “PDS are the leading Parkinson’s Disease charity in the UK. They have to raise money through people like myself.
“PDS support carers and put in specialist nurses, but the big thing is funding research.
“Right now there is no known cure, and a lot of the drugs cause side effects. Parkinson’s can happen to any adult of any age.
“It is something that is debilitating, and you have to live with it.
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