Step by Step for Dad - Eric's Three Peak Mission

My name is Eric Hill, and I am a 16 year old with the aim to climb the Three Highest Peaks in Scotland, England and Wales in order to raise funds for my Dad, Richard Hill.

On June 13th 2024, Dad had an accident that has turned our world upside down. He was riding a motorbike along Long Mynd road when one of the hill ponies galloped into him, causing him to flip off the bike. This has resulted in a severe spinal cord injury, and left him paraplegic – without sensory or muscular function below his upper chest.

After 6 months rehab in hospital and some major renovations to our house, Dad came home just before Christmas. He has had physio, massage and acupuncture every week since and is gaining strength. He has regained some muscular function to his trunk, but no sensory function and nothing, as yet, to his legs, bladder or bowels. Dad’s best chance of recovery is to now have intensive neuro physio with technology such as robotics and electrical stimulation which are not offered under the NHS. After a lot of acupuncture, other therapies and most importantly sleep, he is now strong enough for this next stage.

Also it is really important for Dad to stand regularly. There are static standing frames available, but due to hoping to get back to work and general family life we need a different device. We are looking to buy a Tek Robotic Mobilisation Device. The demonstration machine is seen in the photo below. This stands Dad up, whilst being able to electrically wheel himself around, so he can do activities that the rest of us do without thinking (such as cooking!), and regain some normality back into our lives.

As a family we have always been active, loving mountain biking and walking and we would love to get back to this.

I want my Dad to have the best chance of recovery, so I am aiming to raise funds towards the Tek RMD (~£27k) and towards several intensive blocks of physio. Each 75 hour block at C N Rehab in Stourbridge is £6,750 and we might need quite a few blocks of treatment before we know how much recovery Dad can get.

On the full moon of July 10th I am therefore planning to do the Three Peaks Challenge. This is a 24 hour challenge where I will climb Ben Nevis, then Scafell Pike and finish with Snowden.

We are so proud of Dad for being so amazingly positive these past traumatic and difficult months.

Mum and Dad also want to extend their thanks to all those friends and family that have helped us thus far, their love, energy and generosity have been overwhelming.

We really appreciate all the support you can give and all funds raised will go towards getting as much recovery as he can and to making his life easier in the meantime.

Thank you!