Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

My name is Brian & together with my team 'The BESTS' are looking forward to undertaking the Marvel At home Superhero challenge looking to both have fun & raise funds for Ataxia UK along the way.

The Superhero challenge that has been thrown down is to complete a 20km distance between 15 June & 15 July, that can be completed anywhere (living room, garden, neighbourhood) & in any way (walking, running, pushing, wheeling) you wish! 

Our team have decided to undertake a 'triathlon' between us swimming, cycling & walking aiming to smash the 20km challenge.

The reason we are doing this is because of the relatively unknown condition Ataxia that has affected our lives & those of many others as this is something that I have lived with for almost 40 years now.

Ataxia is the umbrella term for rare neurological degenerative conditions that pre-dominantly effects mobility, co-ordination & speech removing a
persons independence to the extent that they are dependent upon others &/or disability aides just to get through life.

People with ataxia are often, but wrongly, perceived to be drunk because of their strange gait, lack of mobility & slurred speech.

It is a life limiting condition where from diagnosis the only certainty is that it will get worse.

There is often no effective treatment, medicine or cure for ataxia which can for some people often mean a lack of hope.

It is ageless effecting adults & children alike, in the UK there are only around 10,000 adults & 500 children with ataxia, where I now
live in Spain there are only estimated to be around 8000 with ataxia.

Every year a triathlon is held including teams from Ataxia UK
aiming to raise awareness of this condition & to help raise valuable funds for such things as vital research projects, support & assistance to those effected by this condition.

Unfortunately this year because of the Covid virus restrictions a normal triathlon is simply not possible however ataxians, friends, families & supporters are coming together for an at home Superhero challenge.

I have had ataxia for almost 40 years now during which time I
have learned to live with the profound effects, problems & obstacles it
causes.

I do appreciate that compared to many I have been fortunate in that the degeneration has been gradual but ataxia has taken & still does so much.

I used to be able to run, walk & talk normally, kick a football, carry things without spilling or dropping them all things most people take for granted.

I used to be able to walk on my own, then I found that I needed
support by holding hands, then came a walking stick, now I need a walker at all times.

As said I am lucky as for many people a wheelchair is a necessity, the life limiting impacts & their problems are far greater than my own.

I am committing myself to the Superhero challenge supported
by my team of fellow ‘superhero’s my wife Sue, son Thomas, daughter-in-law Samantha & grandaughter Emilia (only 1!!).

Together we will smash the 20km challenge walking (running being impossible for me!!), cycling & swimming.

Thankyou for reading this & we hope that you will support our efforts, any amount will be gratefully appreciated & guaranteed to help us make a difference.

Brian, Sue, Thomas, Samantha & Emilia,

xx

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For further information on the 'Superhero' events please take a look at: https://superheroseries.co.uk/at-home-superheroes

For information on Ataxia & Ataxia UK please take a look at: https://www.ataxia.org.uk/what-is-ataxia