This sounds more of a biggie than it actually is! I'm only doing the cycle
leg of a relay team in this event. That said, it's still a 92K ride including
some pretty brutal mountain climbs and something I've been training for a few months to make possible.

I’m raising money for the National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society for a variety of reasons.
Firstly, I have suffered from the condition since I was in my mid-teens, though thankfully I have had relatively mild symptoms compared to most people with this condition. Secondly, my kids may well inherit this from me since it’s genetic. Thirdly, I am the Treasurer for the charity therefore the financial well-being of the charity is kinda within my remit !

Lastly and most importantly however, AS is, for most sufferers  a painful, progressive form of inflammatory arthritis. It mainly affects the spine but can also affect other joints, tendons and ligaments. It causes swelling between the vertebrae, which are the disks that make up the spine, and in the joints between the spine and pelvis. The symptoms can vary but most people experience back pain, stiffness and, in some cases, disability.

AS can develop at any time but usually begins from the teenage years or early adulthood onwards. Over time, AS can fuse vertebrae together, limiting movement. The disease is more common and more
severe in men. It also often runs in families. The disease has no cure but
medicines, exercise and physiotherapy can relieve the pain, swelling and other symptoms. Other areas such as the eyes and bowel can also sometimes be involved.

Axial spondyloarthritis,  as it is also refereed to, has a significant
impact on a patient's life. Symptoms, including fatigue, sleep problems,
depression, and sexual dysfunction, can profoundly impact health-related quality of life and limit work, leisure, and daily activities. 

If AS is not managed appropriately, bony growths can develop, causing the spine to fuse together in people with severe disease. 

Spinal fusion can reduce range of motion, increase risk of fracture, cause the spine to curve forward, make the rib cage stiff and restrict the ability of the lungs to do their job.

In short, it's nasty and NASS is the only charity in the UK dedicated to transforming AS care in the UK by building awareness, improving care and empowering the community.