On the 26th June I plan to ride ‘The coast 2 coast in a day’ a 150 mile route in under 24 hours in order to raise £3000 for the National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (NASS).

I have suffered from Axial Spondyloarthritis (AS) since my late teens initially it presented as a mild sports injury that I struggled to fully recover from. However the condition continued to worsen and after a series of unsuccessful diagnoses from a range of physiotherapists, in Oct 2020 with the help of MRIs and blood tests I was finally diagnosed with AS. As a result of not being able to diagnose this condition early, I am now suffering from irreversible damage to my right sacroiliac joint and mild damage to my left sacroiliac joint as well as damage to the mid and lower spinal area. 

AS is a hereditary condition and I have recently found out that I am due to be a father. This has inspired me to raise money for NASS to allow more research to be conducted in order to help diagnose AS early and possibly provide a cure. 

The symptoms of AS are difficult to diagnose and in the UK there is a delay of eight and a half years between onset and diagnosis. I have suffered from AS since the age of 19, however this was only formally recognised when I was 24. I will now live with AS for the rest of my life unless a cure is found. AS is a painful and progressive form of arthritis that causes pain, inflation and fatigue in your joints. When the inflammation subsides new bone is formed and this replaces the soft tissue of a tendon or ligament. I have to inject myself weekly with steroids for the rest of my life to prevent my spine from fusing together.   

Being diagnosed with AS has had a huge impact on my life. It has been my lifelong ambition to succeed in the Army, I joined at the age of 16 and have been promoted to the rank of Corporal. As an Section Commander I had hopes of completing a full and rewarding career in the Infantry, however my condition will likely prevent this. AS has had a significant impact on my mental health, being forced to watch my peers excel while I am currently prevented from moving forward. This has also stopped my progress as personal trainer and my ability to play sports due to the pain, however after coming to terms with my condition I have now discovered a love for cycling and this is where my challenge begins… 

On the 26^th June, I plan on cycling the coast 2 coast in a day, this is an incredibly popular ride that takes most cyclists 4 or 5 days. I plan to ride it in just 24 hours. 

Coast 2 coast is a stunning 150 mile ride with 4500m of ascent from the mountainous western Lake District through the famous Hardknott pass, across the Yorkshire Dales, along the Vale of York and finally onto the North Yorkshire Moors, finishing by the sea in Whitby.