The SLNMCC (South Loch Ness Motorcycle Club) rode the North Coast 500 route in the Highlands of Scotland to raise funds for the Scleroderma & Raynaud's UK charity and to highlight the difficulties that these conditions cause sufferers.  We set off Saturday 30th March 2019 and arrived home Tuesday 2nd April 2019 and rode on either shed-built motorbikes, 125cc motorbikes or motorbikes costing a maximum of £300, to make the journey a little more difficult, but it was open to riders of any type of motorbike. There were eight bikers and two support vehicles.

We experienced all kinds of weather some of which was so cold and wet and very windy, we did struggle,  but with determination and the support from each other we completed the journey. We also experienced some lovely weather with sunshine and blue skies which gave us the chance to see the most amazing views around the route. Some of the bikes had several major mechanical problems, including broken clutch cables, overheating problems, engine failure etc. so two of the bikes were out of action after day two. Some repairs were done on the roadside but some were beyond that.

I personally want to thank everyone for their support and help along the way especially when we all got very cold and wet and I couldn't get on or off my bike without their help and for when I needed to "thaw" out in the warmth of Marie's car. Thank you.

Raynaud's phenomenon is a common condition where the small blood vessels in the extremities are over-sensitive to changes in temperature and it causes fingers and toes to turn white, blue then red and can be extremely painful.

Scleroderma is a rare condition (associated with Raynaud's) which affects the body's connective tissues and it can affect anyone of any age, can cause physical disability and it can be life threatening.

I have been living with both conditions for many years and struggle daily with them. Amongst the many problems is one of being unable to eat solid food due to an atonic oesophagus (caused by scleroderma) and having to live on a liquid diet.  I also have very poor circulation (caused by Raynaud's phenomenon).

Many people, including bikers (including some of our members), suffer with Raynaud's phenomenon at any time of the year when the temperature and wind chill affects their circulation, particularly in fingers and toes, causing great difficulties and pain.  There are things available such as heated gloves, heated socks and heated handlebar grips but even all of these things sometimes don't prevent someone from having a Raynaud's attack.  If someone has been diagnosed there is medication available to try to ease the problems of both of these health conditions but there is no cure. 

If we can raise funds for this charity and share information about these health conditions then people can get the help they need and hopefully benefit from the ongoing research.

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