As you may have heard on the grapevine, eight of us from Galliford Try are attempting the Coast and Castles Bike ride from Edinburgh to Newcastle, which we hope to complete over three days. Starting out on May 20th 2012 we will ride 60 miles on day 1, 70 miles on day 2 and 80 miles on day three. I will let our Contracts Manager, Simon Grylls explain why we decided to take up this challenge:

“Can you imagine suffering from a degenerative brain condition whilst at the same time suffering from multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease? Unfortunately, I don’t have to imagine because in the year 2000 my wife Suzanne and I were given the news that she was suffering from Huntingdon’s disease.

Huntingdon’s disease (HD) is a devastating, hereditary, degenerative brain disorder that results in a loss of cognitive, behavioural and physical control, and for which, presently, there is no treatment or cure. HD slowly diminishes the affected individual’s ability to walk, think, talk and reason. Symptoms usually appear in an individual between 30 and 50 years of age and progress over a 10 to 25 year period. Eventually, a person with HD becomes totally dependent upon others for his or her care.

Following diagnosis, Suzanne was able to carry on working in the NHS until 2004, whereupon she took the decision (or should I say Huntingdon’s made the decision for her) to become a full-time wife and mother to our two boys.

As I am sure you can imagine, we have as a family faced a number of difficulties and challenges over the last twelve years and unfortunately due to Suzanne’s deteriorating condition, she is now in full time care in a Nursing Home. I continue to be amazed at the stoicism and courage displayed by Suzanne and my sons Daniel and Jordan during this difficult period.  

2012 is a very special year for us as a family as Suzanne and I will be celebrating our silver wedding anniversary and as part of our commemorations, we have decided to raise money for the Huntingdon’s Disease Society, which is where you come in.

We are looking to raise £3,000. We understand that it’s a difficult time during the current recession to ask for donations, but hope that you will agree, it’s an extremely worthwhile cause. Even the smallest of donation will be gratefully received.

We are funding the costs associated with the bike ride ourselves so please be assured that your donation will go to the Huntingdon’s Disease Society in its entirety. Your donation will help fund the work of the Society which will help continue to make the lives of sufferers and their families that little bit more bearable.

The riders taking part are:

David Atkinson

Ashley Foster

Steve Forster

Jamie Graham

Simon Grylls

Simon Maddison

Debra Phillips

Gary Young

My family and all at Galliford Try thank you for your help.”