This is the second year that a bunch of us have decided to do something worthy in our lives. Last year we found out that one of friends was suffering from MS so as a sign of solidarity we cycled 220 miles in 4 days and raised a lot of money for MS Scotland. This year we are trying to surpass this achievement and cycle over 285 miles in 5 days, cycling through the most beautiful and remotest parts of Scotland and in the process raise a lot of money for Group B Strep Support.
Group
B Strep Support is a charity which offers information and support to
those who are affected by group B Streptococcus (GBS) and to the medical
profession. GBS is a very common bacterium which is carried by about 1
in 3 of us. However, in certain circumstances this bacteria can be
extremely dangerous to unborn and recently born babies, and in some cases it can be lethal.
At 11.36pm on 4th November 2003,
Lauren was born, one minute before her twin sister Eilidh. Both girls
were beautiful, healthy - and getting soaked by their daddy's tears.
Early the next day, while still in hospital, Fiona and I both noticed
that Lauren's colour had suddenly changed and that is when our nightmare
began. We found out later that day that Lauren had been infected by
GBS during her birth. After 6 days of fighting the disease,
undergoing every possible treatment, our strong wee girl could fight no
more and at 7.32pm on 11th November 2003, in the arms of her mum,
dad and twin sister, Lauren peacefully passed away.
GBS is preventable if the mother is identified as carrying the bacteria before giving birth, and antibiotics are administered to both mother and baby. However, most women are not tested for GBS because the current NHS test
produces unreliable results and many maternity units are not well informed about additional risk factors, which would necessitate testing. Unfortunately, being a twin and being born before 37 weeks are two of the extra risks for GBS of which our consultant was not aware. GBSS is working to educate professionals on risk factors and make the
reliable test, which is currently only offered privately, widely available. That is why we are supporting Group B Strep Support. We
want to raise money so that no other parent has to go through the
ordeal of losing a child to a preventable and treatable disease.
Please give generously, or if you feel up for a challenge - join us!
Our Route (see photo)
16 June Fort William to Oban - 38 miles
17 June Ferry to Castlebay then cycle to Loch Maddy - 55 miles
18 June Loch Maddy to Stornoway - 67 miles (ouch!)
19 June Ullapool to Inverness - 59 miles
20 June Inverness to Fort William - 65 miles (ooya!)
