In July, a team of 26 of us cycled from Chamonix to Venice...not the easy way, but over the Alps and the Dolomites. Some of the days we spent 14 hours in the saddle, battling the heat, the rain, thunderstorms and not a small amount of saddle discomfort!

Without a doubt, it was the toughest challenge I've completed to date...There were many times I wanted to give up. But the fantastic team spirit, and the thought that we're doing this ride for those worse off than ourselves kept me - and kept all of us - going to the end.

On this journey, I got to know Frank, a sufferer of this disease. Once a fit and healthy dad to two little girls, a kinder and nicer bloke and family you could not hope to meet.  KD-UK is the only UK-based charity raising funds to heighten awareness and fight it. 

We did this mammoth cycle from Chamonix to Venice this July to support the charity's incredible work.

The cost of the ride (support crew, saddle cream (lots of), food and accommodation etc) was 100% funded by the riders so all donations in their entirety go to the charity. 

The Disease?

The hereditary disease is a degeneration of lower motor neurons within the spinal cord and brainstem. This causes progressive wasting of the muscles.

Symptoms usually first appear when the person is aged between 30 and 50. It begins with painful cramping and uncontrollable muscle spasms and gradually attacks most of the sufferer’s muscles, making it difficult to even swallow liquids. 

We want to help make sure that this rare, often misdiagnosed disease is recognised as well as making people aware of the effect it has on sufferers and their families. There is only one centre carrying out vital research in the UK and we hope that our efforts will help them find a cure.

There is no cure for Kennedy’s Disease and no current treatment available. 

The Challenge?

We cycled from Chamonix to Venice. Not the easy way either! The route took in EVERY steep road, scenic col and mountain view we could find along the way.

It was an epic 8 day grind where we each rode more than 1000 km with well over 20,000 metres of climbing (two-and-a-bit Everests). We completed the Route des Grandes Alpes three years ago for the same cause...but this was different. Longer, steeper and bigger climbs, including the monstrous Stelvio pass from both sides.

It's difficult to describe the challenge but five of the days would easily qualify as tough Tour de France stages. 

In all, the team did

• 8 days of riding (on average 11 hour days in the saddle)
• 1024 kms
• 22 major climbs
• 19,285 metres of ascent, just on those main climbs
• Biggest climb was 24.8 kms at a 7.5% average
• 2 days over 170 kms each.

If you have read this then we are already in front, as hopefully you now know more about a very little known disease.

If you have the means to donate something towards the charity so they can continue the good work then it would be very much appreciated.