COG 2 Kilimanjaro

My Name is Chris I am 34, from Whitstable, Kent

This is My story: Using my motivation & lust for life to come to terms with a serious, very rare eye condition.

Background story: I’m a Personal Trainer and have always been into fitness and started Muay Thai Boxing at a very young age. I get a lot of enjoyment out of helping people hit their own goals and my job as a Personal Trainer combined with Herbalife Nutrition has really fuelled this. I run Free fitness Bootcamp's and classes in my local community and love watching my clients transform their bodies and mindset, as well as finding increased happiness through fitness.

My outlook on life has always been positive but being diagnosed in late 2016 with a rare eye condition was a testing time for me and my family. I have what’s called Doyne Honeycomb Retinal Dystrophy – a condition that affects the eye and could eventually cause loss of vision.

As far as I’m aware, there is no treatment or cure for the condition and despite being really rare, it’s since come to light that my Great Great Great Great Grandfather was the first person to be diagnosed with the condition. My grandmother’s was also diagnosed and her cousin was also registered blind so there’s definitely a genetic link. Despite the challenges that lie ahead, I refuse to dwell on the situation and have decided to make the most of life and enjoy it as much as possible.

I’ve committed to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in August 2017 and have started training towards this goal already. I’ll be raising money for the Action for Children charity through the Herbalife Family Foundation my first goal is to achieve £500 to pay for the registration fee and then a target of £5,000 to go towards this amazing foundation.

I have many other goals I’ve added to my ‘bucket list’ over the next few years, Kilimanjaro is first on the list. As we just don't know what the future holds as far as to what is going to happen to my vision and to how long I have with my vision, I remain positive and if I can be a trial for others then I will do what I can.

We have many plans for Fundraising such as a 24 hour workout, fancy dress walk, my wife's school have said they would do a sponsored non school uniform day to help raise some funds The support has been amazing I just want to make a difference in the world by helping to change others lives.