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Miles's Snowdon Hike 2025

By Miles Hartzel

Donate to Miles and help them hit their goal of £2013!

In memory of Dad, Melvyn Hartzel, I'm fundraising for Pancreatic Cancer UK.


Dad was a relatively healthy 73 year old who was suddenly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer out of the blue. There were no recognisable symptoms. He went for his regular lung checks and was called back for further tests. Just before Christmas 2012 he was told he had cancer. It had developed from his pancreas and had spread to his liver and lungs.

Devastated as a family, we tried to be positive and focused on the treatment he would need and what we could do to get him better as soon as possible; whatever it takes.

However, before any treatment could even begin, he deteriorated rapidly and passed away 3-4 weeks later... on 18th January 2013.

On behalf of Dad, Melvyn, I decided I wanted to do something in his memory. So I have set myself the challenge of hiking up Snowdon in Wales on 5th April 2025.

Pancreatic Cancer rarely shows symptoms until it's too late. Therefore, not only would I like to raise vital funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK, but more importantly I want to make everyone aware of the early symptoms to look out for (see below) and if this mission helps one person then I have achieved my goal.

Thanks for reading this. Thanks for any kind donations. And thanks, Dad, for being the best father anyone could have wished for!

This one is for you and see you at the summit of Mount Snowdon!

Please take one minute of your time to watch this video. It may help someone close to you - copy and paste this YouTube shortcut link into a new tab https://youtu.be/XmoKStCeKiA

Alternatively see below:

Indigestion which is a painful, burning feeling in your chest, upper tummy or throat.

Tummy pain or back pain are common symptoms. The pain may start as discomfort in the upper tummy and spread to the back.

Changes to poo, including diarrhea (runny poo), constipation (when you find it harder to poo) and pale, oily, smelly poo that’s hard to flush (steatorrhea).

Unexplained weight loss – losing a lot of weight without meaning to.

Jaundice, which causes yellow skin and eyes, dark pee, pale poo and itchy skin.

Losing your appetite.

Recently diagnosed diabetes, which is a condition where the amount of sugar in the blood (blood sugar level) is too high.

Problems digesting your food, which causes bloating, lots of wind, burping, and feeling full up quickly.

Feeling or being sick (nausea and vomiting).

Blood clots in a vein (deep vein thrombosis or DVT).

Fatigue, which is feeling very tired all the time, even if you rest.

Less common symptoms of pancreatic cancer include fever, shivering, and generally feeling unwell, and depression or anxiety without any obvious cause.

Please support my fundraising!

Raised

£1,682 + £298 GiftAid

My Goal

£2,013

Select amount to donate

£14
£25
£58
£
Donate

My donations could fund...

64 hours with a nurse on our Support Line

or

29 hours of early diagnosis research

My Achievements

Reached 100% of goal

Reached 50% of goal

Shared page

Self donated

My Updates

Update: Mission Accomplished 💪🏼

On 5th April 2025 I hiked up to the summit of Mount Snowdon in Wales in memory of my Dad, Melvyn Hartzel. 🥾⛰️
I did this to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer and how you can spot the symptoms (the earlier the better).
Thanks goes out to my Band of Brothers… Ross, Nathan, Saul, Darren and Joe. A great team effort! 👏🏼
It certainly was an experience never to be forgotten.
There’s still time to make a donation!

Mission Accomplished - on the peak!

A walk in the park... Not!

The Team

Simply Stunning

Snowdon Route

Pyg Track

Pyg Track Ascent

Thank you to my Sponsors

£53.32

Kristin Neiman

Amazing job Miles!!

£27.05

Michael And Susan

Well done Miles

£27.05

Jill And Paul

Fabulous cause and well done xxx

£25

Diane Benson

Good luck Miles. Dad would be so proud of you x

£10

Collette

Good luck, and a very worthy cause xx love Collette, Grant, Freya and Abbey

£27.05

Roger And Marion Offenbach

Good luck for tomorrow, Miles! Happy to support this very worthwhile cause.

£25

Tammy Berlinsky

£25

Pat And David

Good luck Miles A very good cause Take care xx

£50

Michelle & Stephen Benson

Good like Miles. Melvyn was a special man who we all adored x

£21.84

Dan Kleinman

Great effort Miles - and a great tribute to your dad x

£27.05

Richard Ashton

Good luck Miles

£53.32

Ross Brown

Good cause Miles, you’re stepping out of your comfort zone, you’ve been training, your dad would be very proud. See you at the top fella. RB

£150

Matt & Suzie Horne

Proud of you Milé - lt's a pleasure to support this great cause in honour of the legend Melv. Still missed xxx

£20

Simon Horne

Go Miles! Best of luck son, an epic challenge for an epic legend of a man, Melv xxx

£27.05

Phil Walker

Good luck Miles, 👏

£15

Vanessa

Good luck with your fundraising for such an important cause. Enjoy the views from the top and good luck with the climb!

£26.45

Janie & Jeff Ashton

£25

Sasha Spencer

Good luck Miles . Melvyn was a legend and the best . Xx

£50

Craig, Tricia & Sophia

Dad would say, "Take it easy and don't pull your hamstring, your groin, buckle your knee, twist your ankle or use those walking stick things. I once knew a guy who poked his eyes out using one of those!"

£26.50

Tony, Danielle And Talia

Well done you - go smash it

£42.40

Elaine And David Davis

Good luck Miles, very proud of what you are doing, and we know Dad would so very proud too xxx

£26.50

Beth Castle

Good luck Miles, great cause. Lots of love xx

£25

Jackie And David Hornick

Wishing you good luck for a very worthy cause. Love Jackie and David

£25

Lucas Hartzel

To my dad, who I am proud of for his death-defying hike! Maybe Annapurna next time?

£100

Lynn & Selwyn Neiman

Hope you have an easy trek. Love Selwyn and Lynn

£10.60

Emma Angel

Wishing you lots of good luck Miles on your climb. Go smash it! Lots of love from all 3 of us xx

£26.50

Stacey & Anthony Pell

Good luck Miles, great cause !

£26.50

Rochelle Franks

Well done Miles ! Great cause your father would be proud of you xx

£26.50

Sam Gibson

Hey Cuz! This is great-your dad, and mine, would be so proud. They’ll be cheering you on together I’m sure 🥰

£50

Dyan Family

Great effort Miles! Loved Melv x

£25

Rob Harris

Best of luck and try to avoid the famous Hartzel injury curse.

£10

Benjamin Smith

Huge respect to you for doing this Miles! I’m sure your Dad will be beyond proud.❤️🙌

£25

Melissa Hartzel

Good luck Miles. Lucas and Maya are very proud of you!

£25

Maya Hartzel

I’m so proud of you Dad and I know Grandpa is too! Missing him everyday. You will do amazing on this trek, I love you loads!! Xxxxx

£14.84

Lisa Pastor

Thank you for doing tbis

£100

Zoë Geminder

I’m so proud of you and to see how hard you have trained for this. Wish I had got to meet and know your Dad. Love you xxx

£25

Antonia And Jason

Good luck Miles! Much love Antonia and Jason xxx

£14

Andrew And Gabby Woolstone

Well done Miles, lots of happy memories

£26.50

Richelle & Brandon

Wishing you the best of luck and well done on raising money for a very worthwhile cause lots of love Richelle & Brandon xx

£50

690 Sm

Howard I hope the meatballs at Spurs have helped given you enough energy to reach the summit. Seriously this is a great cause and I’m sure you’ll take great pride in a wonderful achievement! Wishing you a pain free climb and an enjoyable experience x

£21.20

Lucy Levy

Good Luck Miles with fondest memories of your dear Dad

£50

Gus

Smash it Miles! Go for goal!

£113

Myrna Hartzel

I am so proud of you and Dad would be too, as he always was. Good luck and lots of love, Mum xx

£25

Jeremy Davis

Go Miles!

£25

Matt Montlake

All the best Miles.

£10.60

Paul Gilchrist

Good luck, matey.

£25

Richard And Juliet Brett

Good luck Miles. Such a great cause.

£26.50

Miles Hartzel