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I have decided to take on a very personal challenge of cycling 150miles for Bipolar UK on 9th and 10th September. The route is to begin from outside the Bristol Hippodrome, then will take in Bath, Chew Valley, Glastonbury, Bridgwater to Weston-Super-Mare, the Mendips, Bishopsworth, Portishead, and will finish outside the Redgrave Theatre in Clifton. The theatres that form this route have personal significance to me, and they are where the friendship that inspired this challenge began.

So why Bipolar UK?

Bipolar UK are a national charity, dedicated to supporting individuals who suffer with the much misunderstood, and potentially devastating, condition of bipolar. They also provide support to their families and carers. Every year they have reached out to well over 70,000 individuals throughout their range of support and the services that they provide.

What is bipolar?

Bipolar – sometimes known as manic depression – is a severe mental health illness characterised by significant mood swings including manic highs and depressive lows. The majority of individuals with bipolar experience alternating episodes of mania and depression.

•    1% to 2% of the population experience a lifetime prevalence of bipolar and recent research suggests as many as 5% of us are on the bipolar spectrum.
•    Compared to other health problems, treatment of bipolar is still badly affected by misunderstanding and stigma.

Why am I doing this?

Until a few years ago, I didn’t know much about this condition. More recently, because of a new and wonderful friendship, I have been struck by how this condition does affect those who have been diagnosed with it.

It is incredibly hard to see someone you absolutely love go through it, whilst not always understanding how to be a great support. Any condition is NOT a label that should be put on someone and, as with other conditions, it shows just how incredible those people who live with it on a daily basis are. They may have periods of a bipolar episode or depression, but they can come through this and will come out of it stronger. What I will say is I have come to see how amazing and strong this friend truly is. This is also true of Jamie (a friend of a relative) and everyone else who has bipolar.

I've never cycled this sort of distance before, and certainly not for long periods at a time. So by achieving this, I will have had to push myself beyond my current capabilities.

The training will be tough, but it is such a fantastic opportunity to raise as much money as I can, for a great charity, that is so close to my heart. I am being motivated and inspired to do this because of a couple of people. Also thank you to my cousin for providing me with support, and more importantly the bike (!), to do this.


So please please dig deep and donate now. We can make a difference. 

Giving through JustGiving

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So, it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.