Jackie NEedham
Jackie's Chamonix to Venice
Fundraising for Kennedy's Disease UK KD-UK
Story
The Challenge... to cycle from Chamonix to Venice over the mountains in 8 days ..... 1000kms 20,000 meters of climb...... yep I am very afraid and I mean very very afraid ......
This will be the biggest personal physical challenge of my life. Until last summer I didn't even own a road bike. To be fair the only reason I own one now is due to Andy Symington talking me into this crazy challenge.
Can I do it? I blinking well hope so..I will give it my best try. Living in the Alps during the winter is not ideal training, but fortunately my love of all things skiing keeps me in fairly good shape. As soon as the roads are clear and safe my pedals will be turning, and my wine consumption declining ...yikes thats a challenge in itself !
To be fair the challenge that faces me is nothing compared to the challenge that suffers of this rare illness have to face on a daily basis. Frank a close friend is a suffer of this illness his wife Kate now runs the Uk charity. A cure needs to be found research is desperately needed and the only way to do that is raise funds. Every penny raised will be going to the Charity .... not only am I giving myself an huge personal challenge I also get to pay for the pleasure of doing so.
About Kennedy’s
Kennedy's disease is an inherited motor neuron disease that affects males. It is one of a group of disorders called lower motor neuron disorders (which involve disruptions in the transmission of nerve cell signals in the brain to nerve cells in the brain stem and spinal cord).
The many symptoms of Kennedy’s disease generally first appear when the person is aged between 30 and 50 years old. Every case is different, but some form of physical disability will take hold. What starts with small trips and falls, can eventually lead to wheel chair confinement and full-time care.
Often symptoms begin with painful cramping and uncontrollable musclespasms. Over time the disease will attack most of the muscles often making it difficult to even swallow liquids.
Currently there is no known cure for Kennedy's disease. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Physical therapy and rehabilitation to slow muscle weakness and atrophy may prove helpful.