Milton Keynes boy to feature on Countryfile Ramble for BBC Children in Need

Josh, 11, from Milton Keynes will be taking on one of Countryfile’s toughest rambles when he heads to the Isle of Skye with Matt Baker.

He has Niemann-Pick Type C, a rare degenerative life-limiting disease which causes symptoms similar to dementia and affects around 500 people worldwide.

Josh’s disease has meant that he’s had to re-learn how to do basic tasks like tying shoelaces; he sometimes struggles with his balance and can get tired quite easily.

Josh is supported by Niemann-Pick UK which uses a grant of £52,665, over three years, to fund a specialist nurse who supports children and young people affected by the disease. Through the support from the specialist nurse the children and young people’s emotional resilience and confidence improves, as well as their ability to cope with the physical symptoms of the disease.

Josh is extremely positive and he loves being outside so he’s really looking forward to heading to the Isle of Skye with Matt Baker.

Ahead of the ramble he said: “I have a positive attitude to life and I want to take on all the opportunities that I can. Rambling on the Isle of Skye is going to be a big challenge for me but I’m determined to do it.”

The Countryfile Ramble is now in its fourth year, having raised £4.1million for the charity since 2015.This year the presenters will be rambling in some of the nation’s most beautiful locations, including: Galloway Forest Park in Scotland, Caernarfon in Wales, Ely in Cambridgeshire, the Isle of Skye and the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland.

Once again the presenters are calling on the public to walk the nation and do their own sponsored rambles to raise money for the charity, which will help support disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.

In Buckinghamshire, BBC Children in Need currently fund nine projects to a value of more than £518,000.

Since the Countryfile Ramble began in 2015, nearly 3,000 people have joined the presenters on their rambles across the UK, collectively racking up more than 8250 miles.

This year, the public can join teams of walkers across the UK hosting a Countryfile Ramble for BBC Children in Need or set up their own and join the thousands rambling across the nations. To host a ramble, visit www.bbc.c.uk/Pudsey to get walking and raising money for the charity.

The walks will take place in October and will be broadcast as an extended programme: The Countryfile Ramble for BBC Children in Need, on BBC One, Sunday, October 28.