Story
Thank you for visiting my page. I am cycling 100 miles in the 2019 Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 to support the MS Society.
My wife and I have been dealing with the fallout of MS for the past 25 years.
My wife, Debbie, was diagnosed with Relapse & Remitting MS at 26, with her diagnosis changing to Secondary Progressive. We faced her diagnosis whilst raising our 2 young daughters (6 & 2).
Since then the journey has been long and winding, trialling treatments, drugs and a few hospital stays. My wife is the strongest woman I know and continues to fight on, despite the limitations on her mobility.
In 2016 I took up road cycling, riding most weekends anything up to 30miles. Early 2017 saw that come crashing down as I was diagnosed with bowel cancer. After 2 lots of surgery, Debbie helped bring me back to full health by caring for me when even the simplest task, like lifting the kettle, was too much.
Just before Christmas I set up an indoor bike rig. Riding 3 times a week online to build my strength before hitting the roads. I was then given he news that I’d be squeezed in after Christmas for another surgery. Yet again, my selfless wife has been nursing me back to health since December, making sure I’m back on my feet and ready to get back to work.
I see this ride as my gift to her, to help fund the much needed research into MS, to help find treatments and to pay her back for all the support she’s given me over the past 30 years!
MS is an unpredictable and incurable condition that affects people's nervous systems. It can attack suddenly or progress steadily, bringing a range of symptoms which can include sight loss, incontinence, fatigue and mobility problems. No-one with MS can be sure when or how it will affect them next.The MS Society fund vital research into the causes of MS and possible treatments. They provide a helpline service, answering the calls of those looking for advice and support. They believe that together, we are strong enough to stop MS.