I have always been energetic and had sport in my life.  I was always a hard worker

and academically competent, but growing up in South Africa, sport also
played a central role in my life: I cycled, swam, played hockey, tennis, some
at team level. At University sports changed to maritime activities. I was
fortunate to sail around the world in 1976 - starting on a trans-Atlantic yacht
Race and then completing the circumnavigation on a Square-Rigged sailing ship.

I then came to the UK where of necessity (always living in London) my
sporting activities changed and gyms became important, particularly as I
climbed up the medical hierarchy and academic ladders.  I first worked at UCLH as a junior doctor in
1978, and then for many years as an NHS Consultant at UCLH and Professor of
Neuropsychiatry at UCL. 

Then, my life changed and I had to take early medical retirement after a
“perfect storm of cancer, septicaemia and finally pulmonary emboli”.  I therefore morphed from a staff member into
an almost “heart-sink patient” at UCLH. So UCL and UCLH have been my “home”
since 1978, initially as a doctor and then as a patient.  I also had a hip replacement and my
consultant told me that my focus should be on maintaining my “mobility at any
cost”. And so my “serious cycling career” was really born in 2008.

I have been at my local gym ever since and have enjoyed it very much. I
use machines, and the pool, but my favourite occupation by far is cycling on a
stationary bicycle. When I realised that the COVID-19 epidemic and then
pandemic would curtail this, I put my gym membership on “freeze”, self-isolated
and locked down (well before it was “law”), and decided that my cycling would
be an important part of my lockdown life, and so bought a stationary bicycle
for my home. I then continued to enjoy my daily cycling as exercise, doing
about 10km a day.

COVID-19 has affected all our lives and I wished to do something
constructive to help.

I first co-authored a now published academic article on “COVID-19 and
Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome: the Advice” (my previous specialty) https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.23275.1. That felt
good and I hope it helps our patients. I wanted to do more, and the GMC had
re-registered me. On advice however I felt I had to “opt out” of working for
the NHS – as I was in a reasonably “high risk” group. I thought of joining a “help
line” but was told that it was difficult for doctors to be laymen again.

Throughout all this, I was enjoying my cycling.  I was then inspired by the extraordinary
example of Captain Tom Moore who, a Second World War Veteran, turned  100 at the end of April, and walked (aided by
his Zimmer frame)  200 times up and down
his driveway at home to raise money; then I heard about a 90-year old woman,
Margaret Payne, who was “climbing her stairs – up Mount Suilven”. UK astronaut,
Tim Peake who lived on the ISS for six months, (and who I heard give a talk
last year and met briefly) is, along with world-wide scouts, “walking to the
moon”.

So, I decided to follow their examples, but do so much more locally. I
would use my cycling to help UCLH. My “Cycling for UCLH challenge from London
to Edinburgh” Challenge was born.  I had
been  enjoying my cycling as said as exercise.
 But then, inspired by the now famous Colonel
(previously Captain) Tom Moore who raised for the NHS, and Margaret Payne, is “climbing
her stairs,  raising  funds for a local hospice in her area in
Scotland, I decided to “formalise” my cycling with a purpose. Both Colonel  Moore and Mrs Payne have way exceeded their expectations.
 So I decided to follow their example,
and fund raise more locally. I would use my cycling to help UCLH. My “Cycling
for UCLH challenge from London to Edinburgh” Challenge was born.  I wrote to the CEO of UCLH – which felt
almost like a job application. After going through several hoops (such as my
supportive GP writing a letter to say I was fit enough, a friend  taking a photo of me on the bike via a
screen-shot on What’s App and having  reached 
400km,  I got the job!!!

I reached Edinburgh (750 k)m on the 14^th May after 59 days of
cycling at home), my physiotherapist and 
GP have sanctioned that I continue and cycle the return journey. My
mission is now “ CYCLING FOR UCLH, LONDON TO EDINBURGH RETURN 1,500 km” . Wish
me well.    

Now, I have to reach 1,500  km.
There is still have long way to go (in fact double of what I have done). I
increased my daily ride to 10-15 km and I settled into my new rhythm - with a
fabulous feeling of success each time I reach my daily goal. I am enjoying this
challenge and would love to share it with family, friends and colleagues.

I am hoping to cycle to raise funds specifically “FOR THE WELLBEING OF
STAFF AT UCLH who are looking after patients with COVID 19”. I spent most of my
career working and undertaking research as a psychiatrist, and am of the
opinion that the staff looking after COVID 19 patients need as much support as
they can get. We have all seen the very distressing images of staff on TV, from
those struggling with their emotions, others mourning patients, others saying
how difficult these challenging times are, and even telling us  the mere challenges of buying their food (due
to their unsocial hours) and often being unable to obtain enough.  So – my cycling is to aid these deserving
professionals and carers at UCLH.   I look forward to your support.

THANK YOU

🚴‍🚴‍🚴‍️‍🚴‍ 🚴‍️‍