On 11 September 2010 I will be cycling 50 MILES in the wilds of Scotland to raise money for ATAXIA UK. This is not just any ordinary 50 miles - this is 50 Scottish Highlands miles. The route starts in Pitlochry and is said to be 'undulating' (Scottish for VERY HILLY).

Although a keen runner my cycling ability is 'limited'. I am not good on hills - too hard to get up and too fast to go down..... so it is something of a personal challenge which I am doing to raise money for the very deserving charity Ataxia UK.

Ataxia means ‘absence of order’. People with Ataxia have problems with co-ordination. There are many different forms of cerebellar Ataxia; the most common in Friedreich’s ataxia. This is a degenerative neurological disorder which usually becomes apparent in children only when they reach the age of 7 years and upwards. It attacks the central nervous system and by the age of 13 the child will be likely to have to use a wheelchair.

There is currently no cure and no treatment for Friedreich’s ataxia and all the funds raised from the Big Bad Bike Rides will be directed at research projects currently underway in the UK and Europe.

Thank you for your support.

Johanne