A pig farmer with Parkinson’s disease is encouraging people to join him in completing a press-ups challenge in January for charity. Richard Longthorpe, 71, from Howden in East Yorkshire, is undertaking the challenge to raise money for Parkinson’s UK and England Boxing to help fund coaching sessions and boxing classes for people with the condition.
Last year Mr Longthorpe raised £22,000 for charity by completing 1,000 press-ups every day for the month of January. This year he plans to beat this record by ending his month-long challenge with a gruelling 24-hour marathon in which he will attempt to complete 10,000 press-ups by himself.
He is also encouraging others to join him in a push to accomplish one million press-ups combined. Mr Longthorpe, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s eight years ago, took up boxing at his local club in 2022 to help to manage the condition. “I put on a pair of boxing gloves for the first time in my life at age 68 and I’ve been doing it ever since,” Mr Longthorpe told the PA news agency.
“I’ve since set up two boxing for Parkinson’s groups, one at Hull and one at Goole.”. Mr Longthorpe said boxing is extremely beneficial for people suffering with Parkinson’s, helping to slow the onset of symptoms and improve strength and co-ordination.
