My story

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I will be cycling from the most southerly point to the most northerly point of our green and pleasant mainland in May 2012. The route I will be taking is over 1000 miles. I don't think I have ever cycled more than about 50 miles in a day before so you can safely say this is going to be tough.

I would like to raise as much money as I can to help the charity Ataxia UK and I am going to explain why below. I am sorry if it is a bit graphic. I found it hard to type to be honest. However I cannot bear to think that other people have to go through what my family endured over the last 25 years without trying to help in some way.

I have lost both my beautiful sisters Janet and Erika to a rare form of Ataxia. 10,000 people in the UK suffer from Ataxia. The condition is little understood and has no cure at present. Ataxia is a neurological disorder that affects sufferers to different degrees in many ways. In most cases it affects balance, co-ordination and speech. However in my sisters case it was particularly debilitating. From the age of 14-15 in both Janet and Erika, muscles began to waste so that legs, arms, hands and feet slowly started to fail. Over a period of 10 years walking became impossible, leaving them wheelchair bound. This was followed by losing the ability to hold things such as a cup or a knife and fork. Eventually their speech began to fail and swallowing food became impossible. The simple pleasure of eating became a tube that fed directly into their stomach. This slow degeneration happened over 20+ years until it began to affect their involuntary motor functions (heart and lungs). Ataxia finally took them from us when they were in their early 40's. It is a dreadful condition to have in what should have been the prime of their lives. It was very painful for them and for us to witness.

Ataxia has certainly shaped my family over the years. I believe my sisters determination to fight the condition was an inspiration to me. To see their beaming smiles when I visited made me realise what really matters in life. Material wealth, all the adornments of modern society mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. What I would have given for them to to have a normal chance at life.

Ataxia UK is a small, entirely contribution based charity with no government assistance. It does an amazing job helping to support the care of sufferers, young and old. They set up and provide ataxia centres and also fund research into finding a cure, which I am sure you will agree is vital. They only have 12 staff so are not over-burdened with costs. They need all the funds they can get to continue their good work. So that is why I am cycling LEJOG. 1000miles of cycling doesn't seem that much of an effort when you put it in context. (I will probably regret saying that :)). I have started a blog so you can keep up to date with my training. I will be setting off May 2012 and hopefully complete the challenge in 12days #mce_temp_url#


So I would be very grateful if you could donate a little of your hard earned cash. As you can see I've set the target really high. I have no idea if I can achieve that, but you know what! I'm going to give it my best shot. All funds go directly to the charity.

Thank you for taking the time to read this far down the page. I know it's a bit long and a bit serious in places. So sorry for that. I do hope you can spare some "sausage and mash" for the cause. It would mean an awful lot to me.

My charity

Ataxia UK

Ataxia UK

Charity Registration No. 1102391

Ataxia is a type of neurological condition that affects balance, speech, and co-ordination. Ataxia is progressive, meaning it gets worse with time, until people become entirely dependent on others for all their needs. Over 10,000 people in the UK have ataxia and there is currently no cure. Ataxia UK is the national charity for people affected by ataxia. We provide unique services and support, including a dedicated helpline and advocacy service; events and conferences where people can meet and share information; a quarterly magazine; a website with lots of information and a discussion forum; publications, films, and reports. As well as our specialist services, in the last five years we have spent over £3 million on research into possible treatments and cures for ataxia. Our vision is a world without ataxia and, with the help of our brilliant supporters, we are working towards this every day.

Donations 133

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£10 from Mr & Mrs McLennan £10 from Gladys (Jackie's Gran) £10 from Aunty Paula Thank you to all

Donation by Via Brian Knott on 28/05/12

£30.00

+ £7.50 Gift Aid

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Well done Brian

Donation by Gus French on 28/05/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Congratulations Brian, an amazing achievement! and well done to Rosemary too!

Donation by Ian and Vicky Ashenden on 27/05/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Congratulations Brian

Donation by David Stewart - Ness Tec on 25/05/12

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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well done to all 3 of you, from Uncle B!

Donation by bernard turner on 25/05/12

£30.00

+ £7.50 Gift Aid

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Well Done Brian! What an acheivement, and for such a great cause!

Donation by Rachel Brown (cpc) on 24/05/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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well done rosemary getting Brian through it..... great riding Brian behind every good rider is one amazing support crew.......

Donation by the craigs on 24/05/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Well done Brian - a great achievement!

Donation by Gill Elliott on 23/05/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Well done Brian, I knew you would do it! I look forward to seeing you soon at your lakeside retreat with Bill, Jane and Dan. All the best fella!

Donation by Tim Eastwood on 23/05/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Well done B&R! A fantastic achievement and a great cause!! Lovely to meet you at Dunnet Bay

Donation by Terry Golding (CC film crew) on 23/05/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Brian - Very well done, I'm going to miss your entertaining blogs. Have this finishing bonus! All the best!

Donation by Roger Greig on 23/05/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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£5 - from a smashing chap at Brora £2 - from the lady from Sheffield at Brora

Donation by Via Brian Knott on 22/05/12

£7.00

+ £1.75 Gift Aid

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A very worthwhile cause and a wonderful effort. There will be many who will benefit I am sure

Donation by Allan & Carol - met at Brora and Dunnet on 22/05/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

Donation by Jean Hitchen on 22/05/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Congratulations Brian, epic achievement and a fabulous amount of money raised. xxx Jill & Darren Hardy

Donation by Darren Hardy on 22/05/12

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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Well done Brian! (You know i'm always late)

Donation by Danny Rigg on 22/05/12

£30.00

+ £7.50 Gift Aid

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Good luck! Geoff and family (friends of Steve Williams).

Donation by Geoffrey Britton on 22/05/12

£20.00

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Just thought I'd start you off on your next £10,000. (It's Janet Fletcher's son by the way!)

Donation by Joseph Fletcher on 21/05/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Donation by Kelan Smith on 21/05/12

£230.00

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Will be following your progress , looks like you are almost done ! Good lick and well done .

Donation by matthew pearson on 20/05/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Donation by andrea cottam on 19/05/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Nearly there now Brian... How good must that feel?

Donation by Ian K Furmidge on 18/05/12

£65.00

+ £16.25 Gift Aid

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Hi Brian, Rosemary & Monty! Glad to hear all is going well. Keep on peddling!!! from the Bradley"s at No. 13 chendre close.X

Donation by robert bradley on 17/05/12

£20.00

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Hi Brian...keep them little legs a' pedalling. Great cause, great guy. All the best Drucey

Donation by Simon Druce on 17/05/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Allez! Cycle comme le vent! Allez vite a Jan de Groot!! x

Donation by Neil & Naomi Coverley on 16/05/12

£75.00

+ £18.75 Gift Aid

Donation summary

  • * Online donations£10,377.00
  • Offline donations£0.00
  • Text donations£0.00
  • Total raised£10,377.00
  • Gift Aid£2,181.75

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