Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

One of my family members was recently diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a rare form of incurable blood cancer, in which the bone marrow fails to produce healthy blood cells. Whilst not classed as Leukaemia, the failure of the bone marrow to produce mature healthy cells is a gradual process, and therefore in some patients, MDS can progress to Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). In AML, abnormal cells grow very rapidly, building up in the bone marrow and blood.

Through this sponsored bike ride, all money raised will go to the UK MDS Patient Support Group, which provides help and assistance to people and their families battling MDS through support groups, professional advice, up-to-date information, and a general shoulder to lean on for those going through this difficult time.

MDS is rare - I believe approximately 2,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with it each year (that's about 7 people per day). MDS UK doesn't get as much funding as other cancer research or support charities, which is another reason why I have decided to raise money for them. Any donations, however big or small are gratefully received. For more information about the condition, or the work of the charity, please visit the charity website at https://mdspatientsupport.org.uk/.

The ride involves cycling from London to Brighton on Sept 11th, 2022 - a distance of 55 miles (88.5 km). If you're interested in reading more about the ride itself, please visit the website at https://www.londonbrightoncycle.co.uk/. I've wanted to do this ride for a while now and am grateful for the opportunity to do so and raise money for a worthwhile cause at the same time. I've never completed this type of distance; the closest I've come is 35 miles (55 km)! And of course, I'm hoping for good weather on the day to make it a more enjoyable experience!!

I will aim to keep you updated through this website as I continue my preparations and training, to hopefully complete this ride successfully.