THE president of the Westbury Rotary Club, Jon Street, is going to extreme heights to raise money for charity this year as he plans to trek to the summit of Yr Wyddfa (formerly known by its English name, Snowdon) on Wednesday 24th May.
Jon is raising money for the Rotary Foundation, Southmead Hospital, and local charities supported by the Rotary Club of Westbury, and he says that this is also a personal challenge for himself as he attempts to overcome some health concerns.
Jon says he used to be extremely active in his life but following some major respiratory problems, he has been kept out of action for some time. Now, after having his life turned around following treatment, he plans to challenge himself with a Yr Wyddfa trek.
Jon explained, “My history is that of a member of the Armed Forces; I served over 22 years in the army and during that time competed at various levels in orienteering, cross country running, rugby, alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, biathlon (Nordic skiing with a rifle), and I even won cups in ten pin bowling.
“Once I left the army, I kept fit and completed many long-distance walks for various charities. I have walked the length of the Isle of Wight (27 miles) five times for the Mountbatten Hospice, completed six Jurassic Challenge walks (32 miles along the Dorset coast) for the charity Mind, and climbed to Everest base camp twice in aid of Dorothy House and Help for Heroes.”
Jon says he has previously climbed Snowdon four times and Ben Nevis once, and he used to be a keen runner having completed two Bath Half Marathons, being a member of the Westbury running groups, and a regular on the local parkrun.
“Snowdon doesn’t sound so daunting suddenly,” joked Jon. “However, in February 2020, after suffering from altitude sickness during the last ascent to Everest base camp and coinciding with the onset of the Covid pandemic, I started to suffer from major respiratory problems and suspected cardiac issues which resulted in many, many trips to the local health centre, and three 999 calls as life became very poor. Many scans were undertaken in various hospitals, and I even spent a week in Bath RUH waiting for an angiogram.
“I had gone from a very fit active person to someone who couldn’t climb a single flight of stairs without having to rest for a few minutes. Eventually, after yet another trip in an ambulance, I was seen in Bath RUH by a respiratory consultant who arranged for me to be referred to Southmead Hospital in Bristol.
“I was diagnosed with a particular form of asthma, eosinophilic asthma, which was a relief as I didn’t really know up to then the root cause of the problem. They altered the treatment, and I am now on a strict regime of pills and injections which have turned my life around to a certain extent. It is unlikely that I will ever regain the level of fitness that I had previously, but I am now considering the ascent of Snowdon as a viable challenge.
“It is fair to say that I have never attempted any challenge without the firm belief that I will complete it. I hope fervently that with preparation and support I can achieve it, but nothing is certain. I had started a training programme in preparation, but had to curtail that due to a severe chest infection, which I seem to be prone to nowadays.
“My aim is to get as many people involved as I can, in order to raise funds for the three wonderful charities that I have chosen.”
Jon’s JustGiving can be found by visiting: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jonathan-street
