When? August 27th - 31st, 2010, God Willing.  It's Bank Holiday weekend, so it'll be raining, naturally.

Are we fit young men in our prime?  Have we done anything like this before?  Er, no!

We're all in our 30s, with a long history of injuries and longer list of current aches and pains...

We must be mad!

So why are we doing it?  Well, because we love mud, bikes and a good challenge.  

More importantly, because we hope our journey inspires YOU TO DONATE to a great cause.

 

Who are we?

Andrew Walding, Mark Goodwin, Dave Cave and Gaz Edwards. 

Andy P would love to join us - he has all the credentials (totally mad, in his 30s and a great friend) but sadly suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, meaning that he is unable to do many of the things he used to enjoy.  He will be with us in spirit, and it's for him that we have chosen this charity.

We will be digging *very* deep into our reserves to succeed - this is a massive challenge (given our credentials).  Please, please dig deep into your pockets to give us an extra incentive to complete our journey and make a real difference to people with Multiple Sclerosis.

 

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is a progressive disease of the Central Nervous System (CNS) for which currently there is no cure. MS is one of the most common diseases of the CNS (brain and spinal cord) and often strikes victims in the prime of life. There are about 85000 people in the UK with MS.

MS is an inflammatory, demyelinating condition. Myelin is a fatty material that insulates nerves, acting much like the covering of an electric wire and allowing the nerve to transmit its impulses rapidly. It is the speed and efficiency with which these impulses are conducted that permits smooth, rapid and co-ordinated movements to be performed with little conscious effort. 

In multiple sclerosis, the loss of myelin (demyelination) is accompanied by a disruption in the ability of the nerves to conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain. People with MS can have different symptoms at different times and although some are very common between sufferers, there is no typical pattern that applies to everyone. Common symptoms are difficulties with balance, walking and dizziness, fatigue (an overwhelming feeling of tiredness), visual problems - blurred or double vision for example, numbness and tingling sensations and bladder problems - to name a few.

 

What do the MS Society do?  How will my donation help?

The MS Society relies on voluntary income to provide vital services to those affected by multiple sclerosis.  The MS Society is constantly striving to improve the lives of people with MS and their friends and family. Below is an example of what your support can provide.

£38 runs the MS Society helpline for half an hour
£113 funds an MS Specialist Nurse for one day
£500 provides a local information event
£1000 buys one week's respite care providing a vital break for carers
£1500 buys a mobility scooter, allowing people the freedom and independence to get out and not be reliant on carers
£5000 buys a level-access shower and wetroom to help someone bathe independently and reduce the need for carers to assist them in the bathroom

Funds raised from this bike-ride will be directed to our local area to make a real difference to people suffering from MS in the East Midlands.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.