A DEDICATED bellringer from Malvern is preparing to take on an extraordinary endurance challenge to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK.
Chris Phillips will attempt to ring a church bell 10,000 times continuously on June 27, pushing himself through more than five hours of non-stop physical effort in support of the charity.
The challenge follows a remarkable fundraising effort two years ago, when Chris raised £8,200 for Parkinson’s UK.
More than £7,000 of that total came from fellow bellringers across the country who rallied behind his cause.
While bellringing is a familiar tradition in many communities, few people appreciate the physical demands involved.
Chris’s previous challenge saw him pulling a cathedral bell weighing 2.4tonnes 5,000 times without stopping, a feat that took four hours to complete.
This year, he is aiming even higher. Although the bell is smaller, weighing almost a quarter of a tonne, Chris will ring it 10,000 times continuously, requiring more than five hours of sustained concentration and endurance.
Chris is hoping the local community, alongside supporters from the bellringing community nationwide, will once again get behind the challenge and help raise vital funds for Parkinson’s UK.
Parkinson’s is a complex brain condition that gets worse over time. It has more than 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety, and there is currently no cure. Someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the UK every 20 minutes.
Chris said: “Two years ago I was overwhelmed by the support I received from bellringers across the country and was proud to raise £8,200 for the charity.
“This year’s challenge will be even tougher in many ways. Although the bell is lighter, I will be pulling it 10,000 times continuously, which is expected to take more than five hours.
“Parkinson’s affects so many people and families. I hope this challenge will help raise awareness as well as vital funds for the charity’s research and support services. Any donation, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated.”
Visit www.justgiving.com/page/chris-phillips to donate.
