Ten Veterans Compete In Cycle Route for MND Sufferer.

You’d think experiencing a personal tragedy and leaving you with scars for life would create a craving  to give up and with no desire to help others.

 

Veteran firefighter John Chart was diagnosed with the terminal illness motor neurone disease in July 2019. 

 

John spoke about how MND can affect a person,

 

"Motor neurone disease shuts down your muscular system until you are literally cocooned inside your own body, your brain is still compos mentis but you can't move, you can't breathe, you can't eat, you can't speak and your body eventually will just close down until you sadly pass away.”

 

In response to John’s diagnosis, a team of ten amputee veterans took part in a 1,000 miles cycle ride from John O’Groats to Lands Ends in just almost two weeks. 

 

The positive action saw the veterans cycle a colossal 80 miles a day as they battled through the elements which saw intense heat and heavy rain.

 

Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson was amongst the riders, he lost both his legs and suffered brain damage whilst fighting in Afghanistan. He spoke  about returning to home territory and helping John to the best of his ability, 

 

"It's been a long time in lockdown and I hadn't seen anybody for months - I couldn't wait to be part of the team again. There's always someone struggling and this was my chance to support John to get him on his way."

 

Lance and his cohorts have managed to raise £14,500 for both MND and the charity Pilgrim Bandits, an expedition organiser for injured military and emergency service personnel.

 

The team included amputee riders from the following places:-

John from Beckenham was able to ride in the challenge and used an adapted tandem to cycle the route. His close friends and family rode with him which included his wife and fourteen year old son Chris.

 

He concludes with these determined words of hope despite all the odds against him, 

 

"I want people to see the devastation of what it does to you, but I also want to say to people don't ever give up."

 

Ten amputee veterans have completed a 1,000 mile cycle ride from John O'Groats to Land's End in just 13 days.

 

^Alex Ashworth CCG UK Blogger