On Sunday 13th September we will be donning our padded cycle shorts, hopping on our bicycles, and readying ourselves for an epic 70 mile cycle from London to Cambridge.

Why are we embarking on such a journey? We need to raise money for an international patient workshop planned for April next year. Alkaptonuria is a very rare genetic disease, and in many places around the world patients do not receive the support and information they need. This can be very isolating and scary as their disease progresses.

Our international patient workshop will bring patients together to meet one another, and to speak to AKU experts and researchers. They will learn about their disease, and get the support they need. We want to make it possible for patients to attend this workshop, no matter where they live, and for this we will need to help fund travel and accommodation costs.

Our route will take us on a genetic journey of discovery- both metaphorically and literally! We will begin at the Royal College of Physicians in London. This is where Archibald Garrod first presented his discovery of alkaptonuria- the first genetic disease ever identified.

Our journey will then bring us north out of London and towards Cambridge. We will head towards Great Shelford, where we will join the DNA cycle path, which goes to Addenbrookes in Cambridge.

But we won't stop there! Once we reach Cambridge, we will head towards the Cavendish laboratory, where Francis Crick and James Watson first discovered the structure of DNA. From here we will pop over to the Eagle pub for a well deserved celebratory drink- the same place Watson and Crick celebrated their discovery!

The whole team is very excited for the day- help us get even more excited by donating now! If you want more information about our challenge, please get in touch with Sorsha at sorsha@akusociety.org.

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