On the 24th March 2016, 7 people are cycling from Whitby in North Yorkshire to Warton just south of Blackpool 145 miles in memory of our friend and Libby’s husband, Andrew Everson who sadly died last March from a disease called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).

The name progressive supranuclear palsy seems like a mouthful, but it accurately describes the disease. PSP is “progressive”, meaning that it gets worse over time. The disease affects the part of the brain above the nuclei “supranuclear”, which are pea-sized structures in the part of the nervous system that controls eye movements and "Palsy" means weakness, and it is this characteristic weakness in eye movements for which the disease is named.

PSP was first described in 1963 by three scientists called Steele, Richardson, Olszewski and is sometimes called the Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome.

The disease impairs movements and balance, causes a decline in cognitive mental processes, such as thinking, memory, attention, and speech. As the condition progresses sufferers experience difficulties with balance, movement, vision, speech and swallowing.

Initial medical assessments of PSP are often misdiagnosed as vertigo, myasthenia gravis and Parkinson’s. Presently there are no treatments available, life expectancy from diagnosis is between 4 and 7 years.

PSP usually develops in people aged 60 years or older and is slightly more common in men than in women; Andrew was 52 when he died and had only been diagnosed with the condition 12 months earlier.

The bike ride is to raise money for PSPA charity, we are naming the event “Coast to Coast Andrew’s way”. Our aim is to complete the distance over 4 days and will have a support vehicle donated by Dawson Rentals, driven by our friend Jim. After we complete the ride Andrew’s local pub the Anchor Inn on Croston Road, Lostock Hall are arranging a fun day on Easter Sunday with a BBQ, 2 bands and a selection of real ales. On Easter Sunday there will be a raffle/auction held at the Anchor Inn. We have some great donations already and would appreciate your support in any way you could feel appropriate.

Cycling are Libby, Gail, Chris, Steve.Tom, Dec and Brian supported by Jim our support vehicle driver.