Man with Parkinson's does 10,000 press-up challenge

A man who has Parkinson’s did 10,000 press-ups in 24 hours to raise money for charity.

Howden farmer Richard Longthorp completed the challenge between 1 and 2 February.

The 71-year-old also led a group of volunteers to complete 750,000 press-ups in January.

The £19,000 raised so far will be divided between Parkinson’s UK, England Boxing and participating gyms to help fund coaching sessions for people living with the condition.

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition that affects about 153,000 people in the UK.

Mr Longthorp was diagnosed eight years ago and took up boxing at St Paul’s Boxing Academy in 2022 to help manage it.

Club members joined him in the challenge or as volunteers, alongside those from Goole Amateur Boxing Club, other local gyms and members of the public.

Mr Longthorp said it had left him mentally and physically exhausted but its aim was to “inspire others”.

“Of course, it is tough. It is supposed to be. It’s a challenge,” he said.

“I have to accept that I’m in my 70s and the condition is slowly getting worse, so it does take it out of me.”

Regardless, he finished the challenge with three hours to spare.

“I considered doing more… but I thought I had done enough by that point,” he added.

‘Phenomenal achievement’

Fellow participant and chairman of the trustees at St Paul’s Boxing Academy, David Garness, said Mr Longthorp was “certainly one of a kind.”

“If Richard can complete a challenge like this what can you achieve? Anything you put your mind to,” he said. “That is what this challenge proves.”

Mike Bromby, head coach at the academy, said: “One of the mantras on the gym wall says, “I can, I will, I do”. Well, Richard and his team did.

“What a phenomenal achievement.”

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