A RESEARCH scientist from Redditch will climb Snowdon with her family after being inspired by brave bowel cancer patients.
Christel McMullan, aged 44, along with husband Ken, 47 and their teenagers Matthieu and Luc, will be fundraising for charity Bowel & Cancer Research when they head for the summit of the Welsh mountain on July 27.
For five years Christel has worked at the Institute of Applied Health at the University of Birmingham on research projects involving patients with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), of which there is no cure.
“Hundreds of people have told me about the impact these diseases have had on their lives,” she said, “Some have extreme stomach cramps and have to go to the toilet 25 times per day.
“You wouldn’t wish it on your worst enemy.”
Christel and Ken have drove past the mountain many times before but they have never been to the top.
To prepare for the challenge the couple have been doing Parkruns in a bid to stay fit and keep active.
Christel added: “Bowel & Cancer Research is funding our research team to do a review of peer support for patients, so for me this will be giving a little something back.”
Chief executive of Bowel & Cancer Research, Deborah Gilbert, thanked the McMullan family for their support.
She said: “Bowel diseases are terrible and affect millions of people.
“We are proud to fund the best science dedicated to finding a cure but we can only do that with the help of our fantastic fundraisers.”
To donate visit www.bowelcancerresearch.org/fundraisers and key in ‘McMullan’ to help the family reach their £500 goal.
For more information on bowel cancer head to – www.bowelcancerresearch.org
