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Why we are doing this.....

We are undertaking this challenge to support the Anthony Nolan Trust. This is a charity that was set up in the name of a boy who was born in 1971 with a condition called Wiscot-Aldrich Syndrome.

 

 Wiscott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS) is a rare genetically inherited immunodeficiency disease that occurs almost exclusively in males. (1 in 250,000 births)

 

As it affects the function of the white blood cells patients with Classic WAS are susceptible to many serious conditions such as leukaemia, lymphoma, and autoimmune disorders.

The only proven cure so far for this condition is a bone marrow or cord blood transplant.  Successfully transplanted patients go on to lead normal lives, completely free from the disease.  For patients with Classic WAS who do not undergo a transplant, the reported life expectancyis between 8-14 years.

Sadly Anthony Nolan died in 1979 as a donor could not be found for his transplant procedure. Following this failed search Anthony’s mother Shirley founded the Charity with the intention of creating a larger database of willing donors.

This database is now available for patients of blood diseases that require treatment.

 

 Lucas' Story

Shortly after he was born my youngest son Lucas was diagnosed with (WAS) which was a devastating blow for my family.

Fortunately, help was at hand from the amazing NHS whose Great Ormond St Hospital is one of the world leaders in treatment of this condition. The transplant team at Great Ormond Street are heavily dependent on the Anthony Nolan Trust to provide donor matches for many of their child transplant patients who don’t have a compatible donor within their family.

 For us parents, the only thing more daunting than our little baby undergoing  chemo-therapy as part of his Bone Marrow Transplant was the prospect of not finding a donor to provide the cells needed to cure him.

 Thanks to the amazing work of the Anthony Nolan Trust a donor search was conducted on their database and one month later we had a 100% match.

I have never been so grateful or moved as I was when a small red bag of donor cells arrived at Lucas’ hospital bedside and was infused into his little body. This amazing gift had arrived from an organization I had never before heard of from a donor we may never meet.

I am happy to report that the amazing team at Gt Ormond St have now said;  ‘it seems we have cured Lucas of his condition’ and he should now be able to lead a perfectly normal life.

……Amazing!

None of this would have been possible without the incredible support and brilliance of both Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Anthony Nolan Trust. We will never be able to express our gratitude and appreciation for all that these organisation’s  have done.

 Lucas is incredibly fortunate to have come through this but he is also extremely lucky to count Andy Rogers  and Alasdhair Willis as his Godfathers who were a huge support to us all through this ordeal.

Whilst sitting in a pub reflecting on it all ‘The Godfathers’ decided that something needed to be ‘put back’  

It was then that the plan for an eye wateringly tough challenge (for us!) to raise £100,000 for the Anthony Nolan Trust was hatched.

 

A bicycle Ride from Lands End to John O’Groats in 10 days.

The longest direct route through Great Britain  - 963 miles / 1550 km

We are very grateful for any donations that help us get to our target and all donations will be added motivation (pressure) to keep us peddling to the end!

Thank you

Ben, Andy, Alasdhair

The Mid Life Cyclists