Anthony Mottram Profile

As a still recovering Heysel & Hillsborough Survivor the story of my journey through life is rather harrowing & distressing, but it is equally balanced by the goodwill of others, and help I have received from both friends and total strangers and charitable organisations, yet strangers that somehow felt like my best friends. (indeed in my own case many have gone on to be real friends still in my life now) " A Helping Hand when life is Tough often lasts a lifetime to those who receive it "

Inspite of all my own struggles, I, like everybody else, continue to lose people close to me / us to Cancer. It pains me to feel so helpless, yet this ride allows me to "do something" to show I care & feel for those afflicted by this illness. Seeing friends lose loved 1's to cancer somehow doesn't make it any easier to accept, knowing their pain, and how far it reaches into their lives, but doing this ride and more importantly "your support & donations" lets me tell them we care and they are not alone.

" I cycle for those who suffer this ravaging illness"

"I cycle for the families of those who's loved ones suffer this illness"

"I cycle in memory of those whom we have lost to this illness" ( If you wish me to add a name please email or contact me and I shall do so with honour) "Gone but never forgotten"

Isi McLean aged just 6 ( I shall cycle for you little 1 )

Gerry Benn aged 72 (my old neighbour)

(more to be added as permissions arrive ... thank you)

.

"I cycle for those who donate to this worthy cause"

"I cycle for you ALL"

"I cycle for All the suffering Heysel & Hillsborough brought to so many innocent families on so many different levels"

I undertake this challenge, or dare I say adventure, with the utmost pride & honour for all of the above, It is YOU I cycle for :-)

"The Spark that lit the flame", ... after reading on my cycling forum that a member needed help with some cycle parts for a lady friend who had decided to take on this marathon ride after losing her mum to cancer. The chap was so humble in his request for a tyre, that it moved me to offer a complete bicycle instead, a bicycle more suited to this arduous journey, a cycle that would be befitting of this lady's courage.

As a cyclist, I knew all too well that half the battle can be won with the correct cycle. The lady in question was a novice cyclist. I knew that some help in the right way, would help her to complete her task. Sparked by the many questions & answers that sprung from my own actions, and this unknown lady's courage, I felt inspired to simply undertake the challenge myself, actually be there for her, to help where I can.

"About Me / Who I am" ... Though I define myself as a Hillsborough survivor, in truth it is far more complex than that. Having suffered horrendously as a young man alone at Heysel in1986 at my first away match, only upon recovery after a long journey, to find myself at Hillsborough in 1989, all but destroyed me. Losing my sister in 1990 compounded my losses, and by 1992 I was a rambling wreck, slowly being eaten alive by the ravages of Complex PTSD.

PTSD is a ruthless illness, it forces isolation, causes shutdown of the mental, then physical functions, and ultimately drives the sufferer either insane or very close to that point. I described it once as the "glass wall". I could see everything, feel everything, but never communicate or respond to the life around me, the glass wall blocking my outbound signals. In short each and every single action of a normal day was a mountain for me. After a very long exhausting battle, I broke through in 2008, a mere 16years later. Now 4 years on from that time, I am here, talking to you :-) I am not cured - fixed, I will never work again, I am simply determined to "give back" a little of that which life has invested in me, "Hope".

"About you the Donor" It was the help I received from charity & the support of those who loved me that pulled me through thus far, as equally Macmillan Cancer help those whom, like me, through no fault of their own, find themselves faced with illness & difficulties so hard to negotiate. When you sponsor me, you sponsor The fight against Cancer, which allows me to be of some use to someone somewhere. Your donations tell me to "carry on", they let me help ... to put back into life, the help that was afforded me.

"I Thank ALL of those who have helped me thus far in my life and kept me alive to simply be here, and undertake this challenge"

"I Thank You ALL sincerely for your help with this equally worthy cause, for it is your efforts & generosity that makes Life so Beautiful no matter the adversity, your donations allow help to be given where it is needed most, the here & now of our own lives, yours sincerely Anthony S Mottram