Cycling 650 miles for MND and injured veterans

On 24 April 2025 the Pilgrim Bandits Charity will undertake a cycle challenge of 650 miles. They will cycle to all the rugby premiership grounds starting at Newcastle and finishing at Exeter rugby ground on 11 May.

My husband, John was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2019. He was in the Territorial Army and then served as a London Firefighter for over 26 years before resigning due to his diagnosis.

John's health has deteriorated over the years that he has become virtually entombed within his body. I am not only his wife but also his full time unpaid carer having reduced my hours and only working three days a week to provide intensive care for him. John can no longer do anything independently and relies fully on support on everything but we still manage to get out there and enjoy what life has to offer.

Since his diagnosis we have been raising awareness and funds for MND research and the Pilgrim Bandits Charity. Some of the challenges he/we have completed include:

• Cycling from John O' Groats to Lands End on an adapted hase pinto tandem bicycle (2020)
• Get creative with MND and the lemon challenge (during lock-down)
• Competed in the Commando Speed March (2021)
• Trekked to one of the highest drop zones Syangboche in Nepal and tandem sky dived over Mnt Everest with his arms strapped (2022)
• Trekked to Everest basecamp in support of veteran Hari Budha Magar who became the first double above the knee amputee to summit Mount Everest. (this was the hardest and you could then see how much he deteriorated from the previous year) - (2023)

The Pilgrim Bandits Charity is a small charity that supports and inspire injured military veterans and blue light personnel to live life to the full. They are also supporting 3 MND warriors including John who have been in the military or blue light personnel. The Pilgrim Bandits mantra is "Always a little further"

The Pilgrim Bandits Charity have bought a fully adapted cargo bicycle so that John can be part of the cycle challenge. There will be a core team of cyclists. Jonathan Le Galloudec (injured in Afghanistan) will also be part of the core team, he will be using a specially adapted tandem.

You are welcome to join on a leg or two if you wish, watch us arrive or depart at the rugby grounds and/or if you see us on the road give us a hoot.

Please follow our challenge on social media: insta/fb Johnversusmnd

Route details will be on the flyer including information if you would like to join a cycle leg.

Money raised will be split between the Pilgrim Bandits Charity and MND research.

The more people we can get to join us and ride with us the more visual our awareness campaign becomes. Thank you for your support, please help us raise awareness and much needed funds by sharing this post.