A DAD is aiming to walk up Mount Snowdon in full armour to raise money for a friend who suffers from Lyme disease after she was bitten by tick.

Steve Scaddan wants to raise £5,000 for Briony Hunt, who was bitten by a tick as a toddler, and now suffers with various health issues as a result, including Lyme disease.

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Now in her late 20s, Briony suffers debilitating symptoms caused by the disease, and is funding her own medical treatment which is not available in the UK.

Steve, a father-of-one, who works for Hampshire County Council, met Briony 10 years ago when he photographed her in a dance show.

The 50-year-old from South View said: “Over the time I have known her I have seen her having to withdraw more and more from the activities she loves due to the debilitating effects of the illness.

“In the past she tried to carry on without making people aware of the impact on her, but over the last few years it has been so bad that she cannot conceal it.”

Steve’s bizarre challenge will see him attempt to conquer the highest mountain in Wales dressed in a three stone suit of jousting armour, which he bought for £250.

After losing five stone in weight during Covid-19 lockdowns, Steve has become accustomed to regular exercise and wanted to find a challenge which would push him to his limits.

He will be accompanied by two people who will carry equipment including a hammer, pliers and bolts needed to repair any damages to the armour, along with 16 pints of water which Steve estimates he will need during the trip.

The dad hopes to complete the challenge in May, but said it is dependent on there being good weather, explaining: “Attempting this in anything other than good weather would be asking for trouble, as the restrictive movement in the armour would increase the risk of falls, and believe me, falling over in the armour on rock would not be a good idea. I’ve gone over once in practice and still have a scar.”

In fact, Steve has various injuries from his training, often finding his arms and legs bleeding after wearing the suit while walking.

Steve, who is a Scout leader with Sixth Basingstoke Scouts, has been training by walking around Basingstoke, and said he often receives some funny looks.

However, he said he is inspired to keep going by Briony, adding: “She feels like she’s on fire some of the time because everything hurts and she’s fatigued. She never wants sympathy or support and has tried to get on with things.”

Briony, who lives in Bracknell, has been travelling to Poland for treatment where medical professionals have been able to diagnose all the illnesses she has picked up from the tick.

However, Steve said she has now run out of money: “She’s self-financed it all but has run out of funding. Having done it all herself and never asked for help, to be at that last hurdle and never asked for support, I wanted to do something.”

Steve will split the money he raises between Briony and The Anthony Nolan Trust, with the hope of raising another £5,000 for the charity, which makes lifesaving connections between patients in need and strangers ready to donate their stem cells.

Steve has been on the trust’s register for 30 years but has never been a match for someone in need of stem cells.

He said the fundraising challenge is a way for him to continue supporting the charity as he reaches an age when he may need to be removed from the donor register.

The dad hopes to reach the 1,085m summit of Mount Snowdon in five hours, taking another five hours to get back down.

To sponsor him visit bit.ly/knight-snowdon.

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