About

Hi There. Thank you for checking out my new Givey page. I am planning to ride the fabled coast to coast from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hoods Bay in Northumberland this summer. To some of you this might not seem like much of a challenge as its only 159 miles by road. So I've decided to try and make this more of a challenge. I'm going to try and ride solo, off-road using the established mountain biking route over the highest passes in England. I'm going to carry everything on my back, including food, water, change of clothes, sleeping equipment, navigational kit and camera equipment. If you've ever done any mountain biking, you'll know that weight makes a huge difference to how you ride. I'll have to navigate some big climbs over the Cumbrian fells (Black sail, Wasdale, Harter Fell, Walna Scar) before heading into the Yorkshire Dales and the North Yorkshire Moors beyond. I'll have many things to consider including clean water replenishment, food supply, keeping dry and keeping warm. Finding somewhere to wild camp. Navigation in bad (and good) weather. Managing fatigue. I'm pretty sure this isn't going to be a walk in the park for me. I'm hoping it will be a great adventure and I hope you will help me to raise some money too. So why am I raising money for Ataxia? Well for those of you who know me, you will remember my ride from Lands End to John o Groats in 2012 and maybe my ride from Paris to Blackpool in 2014. The rides were to raise money for and create awareness of AtaxiaUK (and a local Hospice too). I lost both my sisters, Janet and Erika to 'Degenerative Cerebral Ataxia". It is a little known neurological condition that affects balance co-ordination and speech. it can manifest itself in many ways and in some cases it can be controlled. However in most cases it is degenerative and there is no cure. My sisters both developed the symptoms in their early teens and it progressed slowly, inexorably until they were unable to walk. Wheelchair bound, the condition worsened and they both needed constant care until they lost the ability to speak and then feed themselves. Eventually all involuntary motor functions failed and they both passed away. Both were in their late thirties. I was twelve when my eldest sister Janet was diagnosed. It's been a major influence on my life ever since and has shaped the way I am. I would like to continue to raise money for Ataxia UK as they need all the funds they can get to continue the amazing work they do funding research into a cure and to help make life a little easier for sufferers. I know that it can get a little tiring when you are constantly being asked to donate money for all sorts of charities and I have asked my friends and family to help a great deal over the last few years. You have all been unbelievably generous and I don't want to overstep the mark. If you do have a little spare cash to donate to Ataxia Uk I would be so grateful and I know Ataxia UK will be too. Thank you for reading down to the bottom. I will be setting up a blog for my training and also will try to video and take pics of the ride and produce a short film afterwards. Thanks again everyone.