I’m Alex and I love cycling. But the way I cycle may be different to the way you do? I have cerebral palsy and despite the fact this makes moonwalking a pipe dream it hasn’t stopped me using a hand cycle to make other dreams a reality. Like my dream of riding to Wembley from my home town of Blackburn a trip of 270 miles, a dream I completed in May 2018 when myself and my support team did just that. What a buzz. Now it’s time for my next challenge on a new improved bike. This is why I’m asking for support in my new venture.

To go to the next level of cycling I’m in need of an improved hand cycle…. These do not come cheap. I want to raise funds for people and charities that have helped me over the years. I want to do this by riding further than I have before. I want to ride abroad. I want to ride tower to tower, Blackpool to Paris. I need a new bike to do these things. The quote for said bike is over £7000. It’s a top end hand cycle for a top end cyclist (me). This is where I need your support.

My condition has not stopped me from riding my hand cycle to some pretty impressive and exciting places. But I cannot do it alone I’ve needed support along the way and now I need a bit of extra financial support to make the next dream come true. I love riding my bike for fun, but I also want to support good causes the more I can advance my efforts the more I can raise. New bike required.

The first of my challenges began when I was in need of a new wheelchair as my old one wasn’t fit for purpose. When I was hit with a bill of £1000 for said wheelchair I combined my love of cycling with this new found need for money. So with a 1930’s (at best) sit up and beg hand bike I Rode from Blackburn to Blackpool. This was never going to be easy but a puncture before we even left Blackburn was definitely something we could’ve done without. This was a sign of things to come as the hills kept coming and the weather once we reached Blackpool front was horrendous. Despite all this I completed the 36 mile trip and I now have a Wheelchair fit for purpose and my desire to cycle was stronger than ever.

After weeks of my back screaming at my every time I moved I realised I couldn’t ride the archaic bike on a long term basis. The time it took to complete the challenge was also too long for my liking so I realised I needed an upgrade in bike to take myself to the next level of cycling. With the help of a local Charity, who loaned me a bike I was able to take the next step (so to speak) and completed a tour of Anglesey, over 2 days 80 miles on day 1 and 60 on day 2. This bike was heavier and therefore harder to ride but as it had extra technology I could complete a challenging ride with more fun and in better time. This is what I was after because I love the challenge.

Unfortunately the loan of the bike was temporary but my love of the challenge and of cycling was not, so I endeavoured to find a new bike. I did this trough a company in York called Get Cycling. Another £3000 was needed (I’m not a rich man). So with the help of my local club we funded the new bike and I jumped on it to tour all the North West Football Grounds, 200 miles later I was half way to repaying the Clubs support, then after Wembley I had repaid the support (at least in terms of monetary loan).

Now it’s time to advance my efforts. Help others in my local club to find a love for cycling. Raise money beyond what I owe to myself and others. I want to go to the next level on a new hand cycle. I need your support to do this.

Thank You.

Al.