Life changing treatment for brother Ian Hobbah

" The simplest of things like having a cup of Yorkshire tea with the family would change my brothers life……”

I am John Hobbah, and my kid brother Ian suffered a debilitating stroke 9 months ago. He is lucky to still be here.  Since then he’s worked tirelessly to regain his mobility and with his Yorkshire grit and determination is now back on his feet albeit still a little like Bambi!

The effects of the stroke have unfortunately left him with Dysphagia which in simple terms means he cannot swallow and ultimately he cannot eat or drink. 

His throat muscles are not working properly.  At the moment he is fed through a tube. 

After 9 months on a diet of protein milk shakes he is desperate to taste a proper pint of Yorkshire beer!

Ian has already had several procedures to try kick start his throat muscles into life again but unfortunately none have proven successful. 

Undeterred he has sought further help from some of the amazing team of medics who have supported him throughout and now has new hope via a procedure called Vital Stim which involves neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the throat muscle.

The treatment however is currently not available on the NHS and is expensive.

It will also involve many journeys to and from the hospital over many weeks or even months.

This could be Ian’s only option in achieving the most simplest of functions which would make a huge difference to his quality of life.

It would also alleviate the tortuous daily ordeal of watching his own family eat normally while he can only dream of such a thing.

To try help him with a contribution towards this cost I am planning on cycling from my home in Leeds to his in Letchworth on 14th August, a journey of some 180 miles and hope to do this in around 10 hours ride time.

The cost of the treatment could run to over £5000 and this is the target I hope to raise.

So I am reaching out to friends and family for your support in achieving this target.

Any support or encouragement along the way would be amazing, however it is my brothers true Yorkshire grit and rugged determination plus his incredible upbeat attitude in dealing with his situation that has and will continue to inspire me to complete this challenge.

After all a bit of saddle soreness and a few aches and pains pail into insignificance when compared to what RKids been through.

My route will take me from just south of Leeds and generally meander around the roads that follow the A1 south, finishing in Letchworth Garden City followed by a couple of beers!