You spend a huge amount of time  working with your colleagues. So much so that they become good friends and almost like part of an extended "work family". 

We're a small team (~50 people) and when two of your colleagues during their working lifetime become impacted by Parkinson's at an early age, it hits home just how unfortunately common this condition is, and how much you take your own health for granted. If you scroll-down Christian and Bart have provided a few words to share their stories.

Today, there is no cure - however, funding into research is helping to ease the condition and getting closer to an improved understanding.  

To help in a small way, a global group of us, colleagues and friends of Christian and Bart, will be raising money for the Davis Phinney Foundation USA and Parkinson's UK between now and the 12th September.  Our goal is to cycle ~3.9K Miles / 6.4K KM  (the approx. distance between Chicago and London) - of which I plan to contribute somewhere a little north of 200 miles of it (300'ish if I can).  

If you'd like to sponsor the team / me, then we'd be hugely grateful. 

Thank you so much.

Jamie

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A personal message from friend and colleague Christian Bower (UK):

"A huge cheer for all those taking part in Celent’s “Friends of Bart & Christian’s” Charity Event which is raising funds for the Davis Phinney Foundation and Parkinson UK who are working to help find a cure for Parkinson’s disease from both sides of the pond. 

On a personal level, I was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s, when I was 41 and as one would expect over the last ten years the disease has progressed…well, let’s just say it’s definitely been a journey. Slowly but surely Parkinson’s takes its toll; physical, cognitive, social, and emotional. The impact on me and my family immense with life goals and plans radically reshaped by a career cut short…. just when it was getting interesting too! I want to thank and applaud Celent, all my colleagues and everyone taking part in this hugely worthwhile cause helping to eliminate this cruel brain disease.

Good luck with the pedaling and with sincerest gratitude"

Christian (52 - Celent Digital) (Ten-year Parkinson’s sufferer)

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A personal message from friend and colleague Bart Nater (USA):  

Welcome!

Former colleagues and friends came up with the idea of a unique bike-a-thon to support Parkinson's: Cycle from London to Chicago, figuratively.  The genesis of the London to Chicago theme is that we have a colleague and friend, Christian, in London who has Parkinson's.

Over 30 days starting Aug. 15, we, the “team” based in the US and the UK aim to ride the 3940 miles or 6340 kilometers between Chicago and London. We will track our miles over the 30 days and have an in-person grand finale Sep’t. 12th in Chicago and London when we will spin final miles and celebrate.

And, oh yes, we would also like to raise money to support the Davis Phinney Foundation and Parkinson's UK. Please give generously to help me, Christian and the millions of people living with Parkinson’s to live a better life.

The Chicago team would like to give a shout out to 3rd Coast Cycles who's donating its rental bikes for the Sept. 12th finale.

Sincerely,

Bart