I'm cycling 55 miles from London to Brighton on 13 September 2026 to raise money for The Tyler Abdul Foundation, a charity dedicated to preventing suicide in young people.

Every year, more than 180 children and young adults lose their lives to suicide in the UK. Through this challenge, I hope to raise both awareness and vital funds to help support suicide prevention and young people's mental health.

This ride means far more to me than simply crossing a finish line.

I live with Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD), a connective tissue disorder that affects far more than just flexibility. It impacts multiple systems throughout the body, including my nervous system, digestive system and joints. I experience dysautonomia, which causes abnormal heart rate responses, alongside chronic fatigue, pain and many other symptoms.

In autumn 2025, my doctor recommended Pilates and told me I needed to do it as often as I brushed my teeth. Not long afterwards, I suffered a neck injury and ended up in A&E just before Christmas. By January, I had lost hope of returning to the active life I had worked so hard to build. I was struggling to walk or stand for long periods, giving up hobbies, turning down days out with family and friends, and even wondering whether I would have to leave my job in farming, losing not only my career, but also the home and lifestyle I love.

Then, at my lowest point, I walked past a Pilates studio and decided I had nothing to lose. The next day I signed up.

That's when I met Charlene at PilatesO in Dorking.

Charlene's classes have completely changed my life. Through her support, encouragement and expertise, I went from feeling defeated and limited by my condition to becoming stronger, more confident and almost pain free. As my physical health improved, so did my mental health. Today, I feel ready to take on challenges I once thought were impossible, including cycling 55 miles from London to Brighton.

Charlene brings light, positivity and encouragement to everyone around her, despite experiencing the unimaginable loss of her son, Tyler, to suicide in November 2024. Her strength inspired the creation of The Tyler Abdul Foundation and has inspired me to take on this challenge.

This cause is also deeply personal to my own family. We know the pain of losing someone to suicide after losing Owen, a loving son, brother, friend and my cousin. Owen loved cycling, and I will be riding in his memory as well.

I feel incredibly fortunate to be in a position where my health has improved so much, and I want to use that opportunity to support a cause that matters deeply to me and so many others.

Every donation, no matter how small, will help support suicide prevention in young people and means more than I can put into words.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for supporting me on this journey.

Liv x