How an MS diagnosis led to £1 million raised for research
When Duncan Booth was diagnosed with MS in 2011, he and his family created the 10in10 and Challenge5, aiming to raise £1 million for MS research. 15 years after his diagnosis, they've hit their £1 million target and now want to continue until they raise £2 million.
Duncan was diagnosed with secondary progressive MS in 2010 aged 39 when his young sons were just seven, five and two years old. Alongside his wife Yvonne, and inspired by the Lake District fells they’d grown up on, the Booths created the 10in10 and Challenge5.
Since 2011, hundreds of people have taken on the unique ten fells in ten hours challenge. And this year the couple hit their initial target of £1 million to help fund our Cambridge Centre for Myelin Repair.
Reflecting on the last 15 years, Yvonne says:
When Duncan was diagnosed, our boys were so young. We were only in our 30s and we really didn't know what the future was going to look like for our family. But we decided that we wanted to do something positive. We wanted to raise money and awareness and help other people living with MS.
Fifteen years later, to have raised £1 million is incredible. When I think back to those early days, I don't think we could ever have imagined where it would lead.
Managing MS symptoms
Duncan, a former primary school teacher, was an elite rock climber who put new routes up rock faces that haven’t been repeated since.
MS affects every part of Duncan’s life. His symptoms include mobility issues which cause daily falls. And balance problems. Everyday tasks that many people take for granted - making a coffee - are very difficult.
Adapting to changes in mobility
Duncan has had to adapt to how his mobility has changed. His symptoms mean that he's had to give up climbing, something he never thought he would do.
First I had to give up my passion of climbing, then rowing, then cycling. I now use a handbike for exercise. Life is tough but I do what I can and try to get outisde in nature as much as possible.
A lack of treatment options
There are over 20 effective treatments for relapsing remitting MS, with a range of disease modifying therapies (DMTs) available.
But like many people with progressive forms of MS, Duncan's treatment options are limited. Duncan is on a disease modifying therapy for secondary progressive MS called Siponimod. But this isn't available to everyone with secondary progressive MS, and the research we fund aims to develop effective new treatments.
Creating the 10in10 and Challenge5
Yvonne and Duncan founded the annual 10in10 in their goal to raise thousands of pounds for MS research. And get answers to questions their family and so many others want. For over a decade they've championed fundraising for MS research across Cumbria, creating one of the region's biggest community events.
To complete the challenge, participants have ten hours to climb ten peaks in the Lake District. Or for a less demanding challenge, there's also the five peaks in five hours route (Challenge5).
The unique challenge grew into a nationally supported event involving thousands of participants over the years. It's been supported by over 70 volunteers, many of whom have been involved since the start.
This year's 10in10 took place in June. But sign-ups are already open for next year's event on Saturday 19 June.
Mark Haymes, our Head of Community and Event Fundraising says:
This is an incredible achievement and we’re so grateful to Yvonne and Duncan for the tireless work they’ve put in to making 10in10 the huge event it is today. To reach their £1 million fundraising goal is not something many people can say and we hope that the whole Booth family and the many volunteers that support the event are immensely proud of themselves.
It’s vital that we continue to fund life-changing research so there are treatments for everyone. Thanks to Duncan and Yvonne we’re closer than ever to reaching that goal.
