In the summer of 2019 Piers and I were discussing “bucket lists" over a pint. One thing on the list we had in common was the John O’ Groats to Lands End ( JOGLE) cycle challenge.
Well, IT’S HAPPENING in less than a month's time !!!
On 11 September we will set off from John O’Groats covering just under 1,000 miles in approximately two weeks. We are both doing the challenge on Electric Bikes - not by choice but due to our respective diagnoses.

I have been recently diagnosed with onset of Parkinson’s Disease, and Piers has a genetic heart condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy ( HCM) and also Wolff-Parkinson White Syndrome.  Piers sadly lost his younger brother Peter ( aged 49) and his younger sister Heidi (aged 47) to undiagnosed heart conditions, so he will also be doing this ride in their memory. Piers’ older brother David also has Parkinson’s Disease.

Kate will be accompanying us as driver of Heidi "the Hotel Campervan", cook, mentor, physiotherapist, psychotherapist and general gofer!  Due to work commitments, Penny will join the support team in the latter stages of the ride but will be with us in spirit the whole way!

Paul Tomlin, who owns Big Peaks bicycle store  in Ashburton -www.bigpeaks.com - has generously offered to provide us with a support package - which includes a Garmin, a big thank you to Paul and his staff for their support.

And also a great big thank you to Nigel Roberts, James Eastwood and Gareth Whitehouse of Trek Bikes who have provided back up lithium batteries for the duration of the ride - thank you - Kit and Piers could not have done this without your generous help at the last minute!

Whilst fundraising is not the main objective of the challenge, we thought we could raise a few coffers for our respective charities -

https://www.cureparkinsons.org.uk/
and 

www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/our-research/miles-frost-fund

If you would like to contribute to the fund raising you can donate either on my page here or on Piers' Just Giving Page  

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/piers-ballard-shakerattleandroll

 or click on both - otherwise just leave us a good luck message !!

You’ll be able to follow our antics and progress with occasional photos and updates on Facebook and you can follow me on Strava.

Here’s to a puncture free, accident free, fun ride ….downhill all the way!!

And information from CPT - Founded in 2005 by four people living with the condition, the Cure Parkinson's Trust (CPT) takes a patient-centric approach to funding innovative projects and inspirational scientists, working to modify the progression of Parkinson’s and to find a cure. At CPT we believe that we are closer than ever to delivering treatments that for the first time will slow, stop or even reverse the progression of the disease. Your donation will help us get there.