Hi, my name is Richard Bryant.

Not long to go until the biggest challenge of my life so far... competing in the worlds biggest 24hr mountain bike race! this will take place on the 20th, 21st and 22nd of June in the grounds of the Gatcombe Park residence of HRH Princess Anne. Usually an equestrian venue, this will be 24 Hours of metal 'horses' and riders battling the mud, sweat, inevitable blood and grinding gears as well as each other. This is said to be the toughest and often muddiest 24 Hour event on the mountain bike racing calendar! I'm proud to be doing this in aid of a charity so close to my heart. links to the event website and charity website are below. 

Charity: http://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/

Event: http://www.wigglemountainmayhem.com/

you'll notice that I've got SRAM decals on my bike in the pic, this is because much support in the form of parts, spares and promotional material has been kindly supplied to me from them, so a huge thanks goes out to SRAM and, more specifically, Frank Ripper.

A little about me:  throughout my life there have been many things that set me apart from neuro-typical peers around me. after many years of visiting psychologists to find what the issue was, I was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism or, more specifically, Asperger's Syndrome. I left school (with a smile on my face, I had a pretty hard time throughout my school life, mostly due to bullying from my peers but also from the lack of understanding and inappropriate support offered at my mainstream school) at the age of 16 following my GCSEs. I was at a loss as to what to do with myself, completing a Princes Trust Volunteers Course and attempting to find work, I found Autism West Midlands. This helped me to find out more about myself and what my diagnosis meant to me, as well as giving me an idea of where to go next. I completed college courses in graphic design whilst continuing to be supported by Autism West Midlands and the employment support service, ASPIRE. I worked as a sales assistant for a camera company before losing that and being stuck in a wilderness for quite some time... I had some pretty good support from the DEA at my local job centre and worked for the general disability charity Birmingham Disability Resource Centre, where I got my NVQ3 in advice and guidance. Unfortunately, this position came to an end (short term contract) and I was unemployed once more... then I remembered ASPIRE! I visited their job club service and saw that there had been some changes but still some staff that I knew from when I was last there. A short while later, I completed the 'future possibilities' course and as a result ended up volunteering on the following one! I started supporting the guys in the job club for 10hrs a week and really started to get involved. I found and went for an internal position at Gorse Farm (one of AWM's residential support homes for adults with Autism) and that is where I've worked ever since. the amount of support given by AWM to get me to where I am today has been astonishing. I know they need more funds to help more people like myself, so I'm doing this, for them. 24 hours of gruelling Mountain Bike Racing... there will be mud, sweat and gears. Blood, more sweat and quite possibly tears! so dig deep! It'd also be awesome to see some of you there! If you do come, follow this link for directions:

http://www.wigglemountainmayhem.com/venue/directions/

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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