Barons Court Dad To Scale Height of Everest for Charity
Martin Bell participating in an Alps ski challenge
Martin Bell (centre left) pictured with his son Alex (centre right) and Alex’s mother Katie Bernard (far right)
November 20, 2023
A local father is taking on a high endurance challenge to raise money for a brain cancer charity after his son was diagnosed with the disease.
Martin Bell from Barons Court has decided to participate in the Everest in the Alps ski challenge next year.
Over four days, along with some of his friends, he will ascend 8,848 meters on skis (the height of Mount Everest) which is the equivalent to three consecutive marathons.
His son, Alex, a local singer and songwriter, was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour called Diffuse Leptomeningeal Glioneuronal Tumours (DLGNT) in October 2021.
Alex makes songs about his battle with brain cancer, giving an insight into his life and the journey he has been on so far. Hear Alex tell his story on YouTube.
Alex’s mother, Katie Bernard, is leading The Brain Tumour Charity fundraiser push as they look to help all families faced with this rare form of cancer.
“At the time of Alex’s diagnosis, we felt completely lost as a family. We did not know who to turn to. We didn’t know anyone else with DLGNT and felt very alone,” said Katie.
“We decided to set up a DLGNT website and build an international community to help find treatments and that other families and patients can take some comfort knowing that they are not alone and that there is hope.”
You can donate to the fundraiser challenge through the family’s JustGiving fundraising page.
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