<div>Two sixty‑somethings. One tandem. A long-term dream of cycling round the world. And a body that didn’t get the memo.
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<div>Over ten years ago, Mark joked that we should go for the (then very slack) world record for a married couple cycling around the world on a tandem. Fast‑forward a decade: the record is now unreachable for us, our kids are grown, and just as I finally got super‑fit for my 60th… I was hit with Polymyalgia Rheumatica.
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<div>Overnight I went from doing 50 push‑ups a day to struggling to turn my head or put on socks. PMR is a vascular autoimmune disease that causes intense inflammation and pain. It will burn out eventually — but “eventually” could mean years. In the meantime, I’m on steroids, dealing with weight gain, brittle bones, cataracts and pre‑diabetes. Not ideal. But I can still move. And that’s enough.
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<div>So instead of waiting for perfect health (which may never come), we’ve started anyway.
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<ul>
<li>Leg 1 — Dover to Istanbul or as far as we manage.
</li>
<li>If we survive it, maybe Leg 2 — Istanbul to Vietnam
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</ul>
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<div>We’re raising money for two causes close to our hearts:
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<div><br />
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<ul>
<li>PMRCGAUK — supporting people living with this under‑researched and misunderstood disease PMRGCA.org.uk
</li>
<li>Hadlow Down Community Centre — helping build a much‑needed hub for our small rural community in East Sussex -  www.newvillagehall.co.uk
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</ul>
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<div>If you’ve enjoyed following our journey — or just admire two slightly bonkers sixty‑somethings refusing to give up — please consider sponsoring us. No pressure, just gratitude.
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Fiona Shafer

Susie Hilton

Alison Gaskell

Sally Schade

Megane Dubar

Hannah Foakes

Anonymous

Pamela Calvert

Susan Thrower

Joanna Tripp

Sarah Prall

Gay Claydon

Will Dawson-Holgate

Kate Eveleigh

Nancy Stillman

Emily Ash Benbow

Carole Russell

Pedalling through Polymyalgia to Istanbul

Just £422£ to go! Make an impact.

Pedalling through Polymyalgia to Istanbul

Just £422 to go!
Make an impact.