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| Gedling RAF veteran climbs 100 mountains on his stairs | Gedling RAF veteran climbs 100 mountains on his stairs |
| (1 day later) | |
| Mr Wilson started his charity climbs during the first Covid lockdown | Mr Wilson started his charity climbs during the first Covid lockdown |
| An RAF veteran who broke his back while serving has climbed the equivalent distance of the world's 100 tallest mountains - on his home staircase. | An RAF veteran who broke his back while serving has climbed the equivalent distance of the world's 100 tallest mountains - on his home staircase. |
| Ben Wilson, 45 from Gedling, Nottinghamshire, served for nearly three years before a spinal injury during training cut his career short. | Ben Wilson, 45 from Gedling, Nottinghamshire, served for nearly three years before a spinal injury during training cut his career short. |
| He began his two-year challenge during lockdown and plans to finish it by climbing Snowdon on Sunday. | He began his two-year challenge during lockdown and plans to finish it by climbing Snowdon on Sunday. |
| Charity SSAFA, which he has supported, said it applauded his achievements. | Charity SSAFA, which he has supported, said it applauded his achievements. |
| 'Solitary challenge' | 'Solitary challenge' |
| The Pilot Officer, who has been raising funds online for the armed forces charity, said he had started his challenge during lockdown, inspired by Capt Sir Tom Moore. | The Pilot Officer, who has been raising funds online for the armed forces charity, said he had started his challenge during lockdown, inspired by Capt Sir Tom Moore. |
| He first decided to climb the equivalent of the Three Peaks challenge on his stairs during the March 2020 lockdown. | He first decided to climb the equivalent of the Three Peaks challenge on his stairs during the March 2020 lockdown. |
| After completing this mission, and finding that lockdown continued, he significantly extended his challenge to cover the tallest 100 mountains in the world, including K2, Mont Blanc and Mount Ararat. | After completing this mission, and finding that lockdown continued, he significantly extended his challenge to cover the tallest 100 mountains in the world, including K2, Mont Blanc and Mount Ararat. |
| On 30 October, he will complete his challenge by travelling to Wales and climbing Snowdon. | On 30 October, he will complete his challenge by travelling to Wales and climbing Snowdon. |
| He received help and support from SSAFA Nottingham following his diagnoses of PTSD and COPD as a veteran. | He received help and support from SSAFA Nottingham following his diagnoses of PTSD and COPD as a veteran. |
| Although he can walk, he has issues with mobility which makes the challenge markedly difficult to achieve. | Although he can walk, he has issues with mobility which makes the challenge markedly difficult to achieve. |
| He said: "The least I can do is raise some money for SSAFA so they can help other people like me, in their time of need. | He said: "The least I can do is raise some money for SSAFA so they can help other people like me, in their time of need. |
| "I go up and down my stairs for a good few hours a day. | "I go up and down my stairs for a good few hours a day. |
| "Things start to ping when you climb that many stairs and my injury can flair up. I have a great physio who supports me." | "Things start to ping when you climb that many stairs and my injury can flair up. I have a great physio who supports me." |
| He has also qualified to train for the Invictus Games in the Archery, Swimming, Table Tennis and Wheelchair Basketball categories and hopes to be selected to represent Great Britain. | |
| "It's a brilliant concept and I am really hoping to qualify for and compete at Dusseldorf 2023," he said. | |
| He is appealing to his supporters to join him on his Snowdon climb. | He is appealing to his supporters to join him on his Snowdon climb. |
| "It has been a very solitary challenge over the last two years and it would be nice to end it with some supporters," he said. | "It has been a very solitary challenge over the last two years and it would be nice to end it with some supporters," he said. |
| "We will be taking the easy route up the mountain and, as you might imagine, I have to take it slowly, so all abilities are welcome." | "We will be taking the easy route up the mountain and, as you might imagine, I have to take it slowly, so all abilities are welcome." |
| Hannah Siddle, senior challenge events officer at SSAFA said: "We have thoroughly enjoyed following Ben's challenge over the last two years and we're looking forward to cheering him on from the sidelines this weekend as he completes his final climb. | Hannah Siddle, senior challenge events officer at SSAFA said: "We have thoroughly enjoyed following Ben's challenge over the last two years and we're looking forward to cheering him on from the sidelines this weekend as he completes his final climb. |
| "What Ben has achieved has shown mental, and well a physical, strength and we applaud him for his achievements." | "What Ben has achieved has shown mental, and well a physical, strength and we applaud him for his achievements." |
| Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |