Once again, on the 21st July this year,  our little team will be heading off along the Brighton and Shoreham seafronts to raise funds for Dystonia.   Last year we raised a massive £1391 and we hope to do even better this year!

We all have personal experience of Dystonia.  I have neck dystonia - I need regular injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) in my neck to calm my overactive muscles which otherwise would spasm uncontrollably.  I am lucky to have a fantastic neurologist looking after me and generally I manage reasonably well and have continued to work as a teacher and cycle, which I love.  Liz's mum had jaw dystonia.  Nick's wife, Sharon, has neck dystonia also.  Graham has been a part of our team up until a year or two ago and we hope will join us for part of the cycle - he has generalised dystonia and had a brain operation known as DBS to treat his whole body muscle spasms.

Dystonia is a neurological condition that sends the wrong brain signals to various muscles putting them into spasm.  There is no cure.  There are different types - neck, generalised (all over), voice, jaw, hand (including writer's cramp and musicians dystonia) and eye.  The condition can make it impossible to lead a normal life and treatments can be varying in success.   Many people affected are unable to work or do normal things that before they may have taken for granted.   There are approximately 70,000 people in the UK who have dystonia.   Check out the Dystonia Society's website to find out more.

This year we have an additional team member in Steve,  from Nick and Sharon's family we hope other friends may come along to support us too.

Please give generously!   The Dystonia Society is the only society in this country for this condition and has been severely affected by cut-backs.  We know how much they benefit those with this awful condition..

Thank you!

Barbara, Liz, Nick, Steve and Graham