Martin Symons is fundraising for the Lane Fox Respiratory Unit Patients' Association

Martin Symons has a rare condition called Klippel-Feil Syndrome which creates a fusion in the cervical spine. Depending on the area of fusion, there can be related congenital conditions. Martin was born with a cleft palate, hearing loss, underbite, short neck with webbing, painless restriction of cervical movement, scoliosis, kyphosis and a rare Hypoplastic anaemia.

This has never stopped Martin from undertaking challenges to raise money for charity. He has been to the Himalayas to trek the Everest Trail, climbed Ben Nevis and Snowden, canoed in Spain and sailed from Hamburg through the Netherlands to Chatham.

Find out about his latest adventure, crossing England on the Hadrian’s Wall Cycle Route.

Martin has been a patient at the Lane Fox Respiratory Unit since April 2004 and is able to continue with his sporting activities thanks to an artificial ventilator unit that he uses at night at home. The equipment was provided by the Lane Fox Respiratory Unit and funded by the Patients' Association.

Martin feels that he has benefited from the expertise of staff in the Unit on many occasions: "Rehabilitation back into everyday life following a course of treatment is always difficult. Knowing that experienced staff are available on a 24-hour basis enables patients to recover the confidence that is often lost through a severe illness."

Last year Martin decided to fundraise for the Lane Fox Respiratory Unit Patients' Association. For his 40th birthday he asked friends and family to make donations towards cough machines instead of buying him gifts.

Cough machines are of great benefit to people who have difficulty clearing their secretions due to weak respiratory muscles and they can greatly reduce the need for patients to be admitted into hospital when they develop a chest infection.

Martin's efforts raised a brilliant £860.28 for the Lane Fox Unit's equipment.

To make a donation or find out how your legacy could help, please use the secure donation form, or contact the Fundraising Team on Tel: 020 7188 7744, e-mail: Fundraising Team.