On Saturday 13^th August Jonathan Gledson and I will be embarking on 200KM cycle from Bristol to various parts of Wales before returning Bristol. We are riding to spread awareness of Fabry disease and to raise money for the MPS Society UK. This event is 14 of #59events – 59 to raise awareness of the approximate life-expectancy of a male
with Fabry disease. My dad passed away from this disease May last year, aged 56.

The ride into Wales will be a serious test for Jonathan and I – it is the both the longest distance we have ridden, but it also includes the most climbing either of us have undertaken, too.

My own cycling journey began in earnest 14 months ago when I purchased my first road bike. Since this moment, I have managed to rack up a fair few milestones:

• After three months, I rode my first
  100 miles (raising over £1500 for charity);
• I have bike packed to Abergavenny from
  Bristol, riding back the next day. I failed a climb on the previous day – Sugar Loaf – after stopping to let a car pass and then being unable to restart on a 17% gradient. I bent my hangar in the process and had to ride a less hilly way home as my lowest gears were no longer in use.
• In April, I organised a group ride with Castleford RUFC – the rugby club my dad played for – with 11 riders taking part. We managed to raise a further £1500.
• A week later, wanting to improve my climbing, I took my bike on holiday to the Dales, surmounting a few decent climbs: namely Buttertubs Pass and Fleet Moss and a few others.
• Since January this year, I have ridden a total of 2620 kilometres (1628 in miles) - many of these are commutes to work, 6am Sunday rides, and some even include the school drop-offs!
• I’ve also managed to coax a few other friends into cycling their longest distances and raising money for the MPS Society: James Pender cycled 300km throughout February through harsh northern climes; Tom Davis and Andrey Dickson rode from London to Brighton; Ben Robinson completed the Weston Sportive and is about to take on his first 100 miler on the 14^th,
  the Sodbury Sportive. 
• Recently, I joined a local cycling group, SAS – Salt and Sham Cycling Club – and even though I got dropped, I completed my first Chain Gang ride, averaging 20.2mph over 40km. I met Jonathan at this club and, despite only having ridden together a few times, he kindly offered to support me in this charity ride.  

The MPS Society UK supports children and adults with rare genetic diseases. Fabry, the disease my dad passed from, is one of these diseases. You can find out more about it here: https://youtu.be/asq9-CCulFQ

You can also view the main Justgiving page here:  - https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/stevengill59events - which
will allow you to see the other events that have taken place since the start of the #59events.

Any donation or words of support would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,

Steve and Jonathan.