Hi everyone,

I will be challenging myself to complete 500km over 1 month by cycling and running, including a 125 km bike ride to raise money for two excellent charities, the Solihull Branch of Parkinson’s UK and The fund for GDNF , for Parkinson’s research.

My dad Martin has had Parkinson’s for 12 years and not only benefits from the support of the Solihull Branch but is optimistic about finding a cure through this ground breaking research.

I will be riding the 125 km in one day ,Sunday 2nd May, from my work place Waters, Shirley, Solihull to their Head Office at Wilmslow, Greater Manchester.

Solihull Branch of Parkinson’s provides exercise classes, support, information and advice to those whose lives are affected by the condition in the greater Solihull area.

GDNF is a procedure which uses a purpose-built device to deliver GDNF to the brains of people with Parkinson’s. Four tubes are carefully inserted into the brain to allow the drug to be delivered to the right part of the brain with pinpoint precision once a month.

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition. This means that it causes problems in the brain and gets worse over time. People with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of the chemical dopamine because some of the nerve cells in their brain that make it have died. Without dopamine people can find their movements become slower so it takes longer to do things.

Any donations to these worthwhile causes will be truly appreciated, they will be split 60% to Solihull Branch of Parkinson’s and 40% to the GDNF Parkinson’s UK Research fund.

It‘s going to be tough! Wish me luck!