Man from Tiptree takes on challenge for beloved ski charity

Josh McDonagh, 31, from Tiptree, will abseil 165ft off the Forth Rail Bridge in Scotland to raise funds for the charity that taught him to ski.

Born with cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegic, Mr McDonagh discovered skiing eight years ago after his first lesson with DSUK at The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead.

He will be taking on the challenge this Sunday, hoping to raise £1,000 for Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK).

He said: "I had no idea that I would be able to ski.

"As soon as I left the top of the slope at Hemel, I absolutely loved it and was soon craving to get better and better."

Since then, Mr McDonagh has attended sessions at the centre, ventured to ski in Norway and Andorra's mountains, and even became a trustee of DSUK.

His journey has seen him use a bi-ski, a skiing device with two specially designed "curvier" skis under the chair before he progressed to a monoski with a singular regular ski under the seat.

The challenge is happening this weekend  (Image: Cameron Ross Hall // Holmlands’)

On his skiing experiences in Andorra, he said: "While skiing in Andorra was awesome the views, the sense of adrenaline and freedom I got from hurtling down the slopes, there was something else the Disability Snowsport UK holidays gave me, an incredible group of friends.

"I would never have met friends from all over the country without Disability Snowsport UK.

"So on Sunday, moments before I begin my abseil, probably trembling in anticipation of the 165ft descent beneath me, thinking, why on earth am I doing this, I am going to be thinking of the six in ten disabled people who do not feel they can be as active as they want to be."

Supporting Josh throughout his endeavour is his wife, Richelle.

While she might not share his level of excitement for the abseil, she understands its significance.

"She knows how much Disabled Snowsports UK means to me", Mr McDonagh said.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/page/j-mcdonagh-50mabseil4dsuk.