Origin Enterprises plc is launching the Dawn to Dusk charity bike ride challenge, to support one of our colleagues, Paweł Ślęzak, Agrii Polska Seeds Director, to raise funds for his daughter Aleksandra - known as Ola - to undergo medical treatment in the USA.

OLA'S STORY...

Ola has Rett syndrome, a rare genetic neurological and developmental disorder that affects the way the brain develops. This disorder causes a progressive loss of motor skills and language in young children.

In Ola’s case, she developed as expected for the first 2 years of her life, then suddenly suffered a huge regression. She lost skills she previously had, such as the ability to communicate, and started having regular seizures. It took many months of visits to doctors and specialists before she was finally diagnosed with Rett syndrome. Rett’s is unpredictable in many ways and another regression can come anytime, and Ola will lose skills again. There is currently no cure.

Treatment focuses on improving communication and movement, treating seizures and providing care and support for the child and their families. Ola receives a medicine, called Daybue, which supplies protein to the body which improves some motor skills and helps protect against another regression. There are two ongoing clinical trials for a gene therapy. In both cases the treatment is likely to be a single injection, which may be available in 1-2 years, depending on the trial results. Physically, Ola is well enough for doctors to believe that the gene therapy will be effective and may even reverse some of her symptoms. In the meantime, she continues to receive Daybue which improves the quality of her life until the gene therapy becomes available. Charity Cycling Challenge To cover Ola’s Daybue treatment, rehabilitation, and gene therapy treatment in the USA, Paweł needs to raise a massive €2.3m. He needs our help and support to achieve this!

THE CHALLENGE

A team of people from across Origin will be completing as many loops of Rutland Water’s 23-mile off-road cycle path as possible between sunrise and sunset.

When: Thursday 18 Sept 2025, between sunrise at 6:32am and sunset at 7:27pm

Where: Rutland Water, LE15 8QL, UK

TO DONATE

Please support Ola by making a donation.

Thank you!