Charity Bike Ride 2024 Dream Flight Addensbrooke

Hi everyone.

Below is a link to Bethany’s story

https://youtu.be/EJRTf8V0DLQ

My daughter Bethany has suffered with Crohn’s disease being diagnosed with the condition in 2019. It took many years and many doctors’ appointments and plenty of persistence from her mum to finally get to the bottom of her health issues no pun intended. At times Bethany was severely ill being admitted to hospital a few times. After her diagnosis Bethany was initially put on a supplement called modulen which replaced all solid foods. 4 days before the end of her 6-week course this failed, and we were back to square one. She even missed Christmas dinner because she was determined to get better.

Bethany amazed us with her strength and courage to not let it get her down. Bethany spent a period of time on steroids and eventually on weekly/fortnightly injections.

Back in the dark days of Covid Bethany needed to isolate from the world totalling 24 weeks due to the Immunosuppressants she was taking. The character she showed not only to us her family but to her friends was inspiring. Imagine being told sorry you must stay at home and the only slice of the outside world you can see is your garden. She wasn't even allowed to throw a ball back to the neighbour’s garden because at every moment she followed the rules.

Bethany lives her life day to day depending on how her condition affects her mixed with

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome she can be very fatigued and in insufferable amounts of pain. At points being told by her nurse most people would be screaming in agony. Bethany has shown so much courage we are so so proud of her and her personality and determination oozes onto us and others.

So why do I need your help. Simply I want to give back to two charities that have helped not only Bethany but our family as a whole. Addenbrooke hospital in particular the paediatric gastroenterology department. They diagnosed Bethany after a chance appointment with a locum doctor. Since then, they have managed Bethany’s condition and have supported her, and our family and I will always be grateful. Without them I refuse to think what could have happened.

Secondly Dream Flights UK are a UK registered charity have given Bethany something we simply could not give her. A trip of a lifetime, lifelong friends, and a chance to relate with young teenagers in similar situations dealing with life debilitating conditions. The charity takes 192 children from all over the UK to Orlando Florida. They visit Disney Warner Bros studios island of adventure Hollywood studios discover cove and sea world to swim with dolphins. Truly amazing for 10 days they get to be kids without fear of being judged by anyone.

Finally, I not only want to give back to these to fantastic organisations but to raise awareness of IBD because poo seems to be a taboo subject in today's society. Not all disabilities are visible.

So, what am I doing?

I am raising funds initially to help with costs towards a charity bike ride that myself and who I suspect will be my future son in law, Jayden, will be doing in May 2024. I was challenged to do London to Brighton which covers 54 miles. With me I wanted something different something that wasn't the status quo. Being a massive football fan, it had to be football related.

Starting at Windsor Park Belfast the home of the club Linfield FC I support from my hometown in Northern Ireland we will then be cycling to Larne and catching the boat to Cairnryan in Scotland continuing on to Glasgow to Ibrox stadium the home of Rangers another team I supported since I was a boy. From there we travel to the outskirts of Carlisle to visit Hadrian's Wall. Why because it would be rude not to and besides, it is my name! The next leg of our journey sees us visit the Theatre of Dreams Old Trafford the home of my beloved Manchester United. We then set off to Suffolk to complete a sky dive. Jayden has reservations about completing this part so in steps Olvia my eldest daughter to take over from Jayden and jump from 15 thousand feet with me in tow. Our next stop will take us to Addenbrooke hospital to pay tribute to the department that has helped Bethany so much. Our final journey will be to Stevenage fc our hometown club completing a journey of over 674 miles. The plan is to finish on world IBD day May 19th, 2024.

This is one epic journey for a man that will be approaching 40 that hasn’t ridden a bike in 20 years, and a young man pushing him all the way.

To finish I would like to thank every single person that donates to this challenge, and I hope to raise a lot more for these chosen charities.