A father-of-three who is paralysed from the waist down has set a Guinness World Record after climbing to the top of one of the UK’s tallest buildings in an exoskeleton.
Simon Kindleysides, 37, from Norwich, was left unable to walk unaided after being diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and a benign glioma brain tumour in 2013.
The tumour is still growing and affects his hearing, balance and body’s left side coordination.
In his world record-breaking feat in March, he climbed 1,444 steps at The Leadenhall Building, otherwise known as the Cheese Grater, which is one of the tallest buildings in London.
Simon now holds the Guinness World Record for the most stairs climbed in a robotic walking device in 8 hours for a man.
Simon Kindleysides, 37, from Norwich, was left unable to walk unaided after being diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and a benign glioma brain tumour in 2013. Pictured, Simon before his diagnosis (right) and after climbing the Cheesegrater (left)
In his world record-breaking feat in March, he climbed 1,444 steps at The Leadenhall Building, otherwise known as the Cheese Grater, pictured, one of the tallest buildings in London
Simon, pictured in 2021, uses a wheelchair and exoskeleton suit. The suit is what he uses for challenges, climbing stairs and going outside
The exoskeleton suit provides powered hip and knee motion to enable individuals with spinal cord injury to stand upright, walk, turn, and climb and descend stairs.
It took Mr Kindleysides just over six hours to get from the basement to the 51st floor of the building and he was supported by a team of friends as well as those from CC Land, who own the building.
He completed the feat to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity and TeiganSmile, a campaign which supports the ongoing care of children with cerebral palsy.
The father-of-three used only a wheelchair until 2015, when heartwarming footage taken at the PhysioFunction centre in Northamptonshire, UK, shows him taking his first tentative steps using the ‘Rex’ robotic suit.
He then found the ReWalk suit in 2017 which allowed him to climb stairs and go outside.
And he has been conquering challenges since, first using borrowed suits and then using a £100,000 Re-Walk exoskeleton suit he received from an anonymous donor in 2019.
Mr Kindleysides, who also faces mental health struggles including depression, hopes that his challenge will showcase to others what is possible with a positive mindset and determination.
It took Mr Kindleysides just over six hours to get from the basement to the 51st floor of the building and he was supported by a team of friends (pictured) as well as those from CC Land, who own the building
He said: ‘Doing the marathon showed me I could do the distance so for my next challenge I wanted to conquer a climb. I rung round all of London’s tallest skyscrapers and the Cheesegrater was the one who got back to me – I couldn’t have asked for a better location.’
Adam Goldin, Head of C C Land UK, said: ‘It’s an honour that Simon chose to climb The Leadenhall Building. Giving back is an important part of our philosophy and we support charitable initiatives whenever possible.
‘We are delighted to be part of Simon’s world record efforts and wish him every success going forward.’
Mr Kindleysides, who also faces mental health struggles including depression, hopes that his challenge will showcase to others what is possible with a positive mindset and determination
It is not the first challenge that Mr Kindleysides has taken on.
The 37-year-old, who is father to Anya, 17, Corin, 10 and Lyra, four, walked 125 miles in February 2021 and raised more than £12,000.
This was donated to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals Charity for the the children’s operating theatre and intensive care unit.
A documentary about Mr Kindleysides life was also released in 2021, called ‘No Limits- The Robotic Man.’
Simon walked from Blofield to Brundal in Norfolk, using a ReWalk exoskeleton in 2021
And in 2018, Mr Kindleysides set another world record when he completed the London Marathon in 36 hours and 46 minutes, becoming the fastest man to ever finish the 26.2 miles while wearing a robotic walking suit.
In October this year he is set to take on the London Marathon again in a bid to beat his time.
You can donate to Mr Kindleysides fundraiser for The Brain Tumour Charity and TeiganSmiles here.
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