To get Mick back in the wild where he belongs

Mick has spent his life giving to others and exploring in the mountains and adventuring in many sports all over the world.

Many of you will remember how he opened his house to many Llanberis 'waifs and strays' to live and climb in the area whilst he was running the infamous Heights Hotel.

Mick was a very fit and active man late into life.

Whilst travelling and enjoying a holiday in Costa Rica in early 2023, Mick had a life changing accident in the surf and suffered irreversible spinal injuries resulting in severe paralysis of his lower body and very restricted movement in his upper body, requiring full time care.

His daughter Sarah was studying osteopathy in New Zealand at the time, and had finally settled into a rewarding life plan. Sarah did not hesitate to travel to the other side of the globe to arrange for Mick to be repatriated home to Stoke spinal injury specialist hospital to commence Mick's care and treatment.

Sarah then selflessly stayed by Mick's bedside for months to make sure he was well looked after and assisted the busy NHS staff with turning him and talking to him everyday.

Then, Mick was in a position to be transferred to Agnes Jones and Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, slightly nearer in Shrewsbury in August 2023.

Sarah was able to travel several times a week from Mick's home in Llanberis to visit him and spend time with him in hospital. During this time, Sarah did very little for herself as her only focus was making sure Mick was comfortable and his house was ready for eventually coming home.

Sarah worked hard to get Mick transferred to a local hospital around 15 miles away , this happened in November 2023, and Mick was able to come home for a few hours during the week.

At home was his other daughter Cath, she had been living with Mick for many years before Sarah had returned. Sadly Cath had suffered with deteriorating mental health in the preceding years and home life with just her and Mick had been difficult and strained.

Cath was not able to leave the house to visit Mick during his hospital admissions, or be able offer any emotional support to Sarah or assist in Mick's care.

Mick eventually came home in March 2024 and Sarah arranged a care plan which involved her being available to assist the carers everyday.

Just when things should have been easier and Mick and Sarah were settling into life at home, tragically Cath took her own life on June 14th.

This event shattered the family and nearly broke Mick and Sarah after the year they had spent together.

In more recent days, Mick has shown some keenness to go out in the sunshine and see all the beautiful things he has been missing, he also had just acquired a fluffy companion Ruby dog) who will be trained to walk alongside his wheelchair and sit on his lap.

The wheelchair Mick currently has is great for around the house and on flat tarmac accessible walks, but it is terrifying to watch Mick on uneven ground or going up ramps with this chair. Mick being the intrepid man he is, has no qualms at pushing his chair to the limits, but it may break soon!!

Sarah has researched an off road chair which Mick can operate, but they are very expensive and not affordable for the family.

Funds are very tight at present due to all the travelling to hospital, getting a accessible vehicle to transport Mick, and Sarah being unable to work for the last 18 months, she had spent all her savings!!

So please please reach out with anything you can afford to help Mick get the best quality of life he can, and enable him to continue exploring the world (or even just around Llanberis!) safely.

Thank you ❤️