Story By DAVID WATSON

Having reached 70 earlier this year, Yorkshireman Richard Longthorp thought he ​would take the opportunity to give a proverbial ‘two fingers’ to the twin ​challenges of age and Parkinson’s Disease.

But, more importantly, the Howden Rotarian wanted to work with two sporting ​organisations working to beat Parkinson’s - St Paul’s Boxing Academy in Hull and ​Goole Amateur Boxing Club, both of whom now have very active Parkinson’s ​Boxing Groups, and Parkinsons UK.

So earlier this year, Richard undertook a challenge of completing a 1,000 press-​ups a day for an entire month. He posted daily videos and updates of his ​progress and by the end of the month had completed the impressive total of ​33,217 press-ups - an average of 1,072 per day – to raise a staggering £22,000.

Richard’s efforts received widespread media support including TV and social ​media coverage, including a podcast produced by former England rugby players, ​James Haskell and Mike Tindall – the husband of Zara Tindall, a niece of King ​Charles.

Boxing is increasingly being recognised by participants and scientists as an ​effective way of mitigating many of the symptoms of Parkinson's. It improves ​brain/eye/body connectivity and coordination, it improves balance and posture, ​and it also provides a whole of body cardio workout.

The two boxing clubs are both working with Parkinson's UK to build a local ​resource to support an increasing number of sufferers participating in the ​Parkinson's boxing sessions which both clubs now run.

Both boxing clubs have also made it clear they are keen to support other groups ​of people who may be "health compromised".

In March, at a St Paul’s Boxing event in Hull, Richard presented a cheque for ​£7,000 to the academy saying “Parkinson’s is a degenerative disease of part of ​the brain. It is progressive, there is no cure. Or as one new member of our ​Parkinson’s Punchers group said to me last Saturday, it’s rubbish, isn’t it?

“But here’s the thing, half an hour later after his first ever session of pad work, ​that same guy said to me with a huge smile on his face ‘This is great, isn’t it’.

“So, we have a group of people at St Paul’s Parkinson’ Punchers, and at Goole, ​who are sticking two fingers up to what people say happens with Parkinson’s. ​We’re going to do whatever we can to at least slow that progression down and at ​best halt or even reverse it.

“I set out with two objectives for my challenge, to raise awareness and raise ​some cash to help fund the boxing coaching and with the help of the BBC’s Look ​North programme, my daughter Anna’s social media, Mike Tindall & James ​Haskell with their podcast, I would like to think we have achieved the first ​objective.

“I originally had a target of £2,000, but due to over 300 people’s incredible ​generosity, the amount raised has come to a staggering and extremely humbling ​£22,000 which will be split three ways between St Paul’s Boxing Academy, Goole ​Amateur Boxing Club and Parkinson’s UK.”