I think I have gone a bit lockdown crazy. 

For the past 2 years I have ridden 300km rides in support of the Caudwell Lyme charity, so I decided I should up my game for this year's challenge. Apparently in a moment of madness, for me this means doubling the distance. So on the 24th of July (Covid restrictions permitting) I will be taking part in a 620km cycle from London Kings Cross past Oxford, to Birmingham, around Leicester, Cambridge and back to London. All in support of Caudwell Lyme.

Caudwell LymeCo Charity's mission is to fund research that finds an accurate test for Lyme disease, and a treatment that cures every patient. In fact it is through fund raising efforts that they have just been able to announce their first ever research grant to find a quicker and more reliable antibody test to identify the disease in its early stages. And if this past 18 months has taught us one thing, it is how critical early and accurate testing is required to halt diseases. 

At the moment, neither of these things exist and many thousands of people are suffering in the UK, either unable to get help or treatment on the NHS, or they have just given up hope of being cured and are living with life-limiting symptoms. 

I have seen first-hand what can happen when an effective diagnosis is delayed, after my friend contracted Lyme's Disease 3 years ago. After a number of months of uncertain diagnosis, he was eventually put into an induced coma so that his body could fight the disease. After being in and out of hospital for months, he was eventually released with what was supposed to be a long road to recovery, but he deteriorated again shortly after, and this time his body was not strong enough to fight it off.

Darren passed away just under 12 months after his first symptoms of what we now know was Lyme's Disease.

So yes, my ride will challenge me, but it is insignificant in the perspective of what some people are continuing to go through as they suffer with Lymes disease.