Alison's Story

Eighteen months after I was diagnosed with Parkinson's, I cycled from Vietnam to Cambodia with a group of friends who became affectionately known as The Cycopaths. We have since completed a significant cycle challenge most years.

My husband John and friends, Caroline and Paul have been on each of these challenges with me as part of a bigger group. This year, the four of us are planning to cycle 4,500 miles across America to mark 10 years of my living with Parkinson's.

Cycling has helped me keep fit and active and to live as well as I can with Parkinson's. I couldn't possibly contemplate doing any of my past challenges and certainly not a challenge of this scale without the support of John, Caroline and Paul.

I wanted to mark 10 years of living with Parkinson's by doing something out of the ordinary. So, on June 15th this year, exactly ten years after I was diagnosed, I plan to be 1,000 miles into a 4,500 mile cycle from the West to the East coast of America.

We will set off in May to cycle from Seaside, on the Pacific coast, all the way across the Rockies, the Great Divide, parks, plains, prairies and everything in between until we reach the Atlantic coast. For my husband and I that will be Portland, Maine and for Caroline and Paul, it will be Yorktown, Virginia.

This is the first challenge where we will have no support, so will have to carry everything we need with us on our bikes for this 100+ day adventure.

We are raising funds for Cure Parkinson's a charity which funds research into treatment with the potential to slow, stop or reverse Parkinson's.

Thank you for your interest and support. Alison x

John's Story

Alison has planned a personal cycling challenge every year since she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. These challenges have become one of the highlights of the year for me and many others. Alison has managed to inspire a great many people to take up cycling for many reasons, which of course include raising the hope of a cure for Parkinson’s. I was never a cyclist, but it was a case of sign up or be left behind. It quickly became clear that these challenges were so much more than exercise. Teamwork, adventure and exploration around the globe, physical and psychological support, opportunities to meet and share things with others, stunning scenery, and of course a great deal of fun.

The 10th anniversary of her diagnosis stimulated a lot of reflection in our house. Alison was determined to show there was still hope after a decade. I was not expecting an unsupported ride across the USA, but that is what we are doing. Supported for much of this by Paul and Caroline, it is of no surprise that many of our friends wish to join us for some of the journey. It will truly be a challenge and an adventure.

I am a man who spent time divided between endoscopy (my day job) and chasing balls on pitches and courts (my down time). I now love bikes and cycling. I have learned to love each cycling challenge. This will test my fitness and stamina – someone who has played sports all my life and does not have Parkinson’s. Respect to Alison, who I will do my best to support. My wife has always had a strong influence over me, but I could never have contemplated this without her drive and ambition.

You can follow our progress by using the QR code above or visiting: www.theramblingsofacyclopath.com