Pig farmer with Parkinson’s disease to take part in charity press-ups challenge 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.
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.
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.
“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.
