Raising money for Ataxia UK on behalf of Cassie

Cassie is a very special person, and she continues to make me an incredibly proud big brother. I don't know the words to use to describe how devastating Cassie's life has turned out to be. My pride in her comes from her strength and hope of much lighter and brighter days ahead. Even now, she has strength and hope, and that is a true testament to the kind of person that she has become. Most of you know of her situation. Cassie was diagnosed with Ataxia when she was 15 years old. Ataxia is a degenerative neurological condition that affects Cassie's ability to walk, talk, eat, sing, laugh, and dance independently. Now, at 33 years old, I will leave it for you to imagine the level of independence and the quality of life that my sister now lives with.

Ataxia UK is a charity that helps to support those with Ataxia. They tirelessly aim and relentlessly work around the clock to fund research into treatments and cures for the condition of which there are still tragically none. With only 10,000 people in the UK having been diagnosed with Ataxia, it is a very rare condition, and the charity is generally unsung.

I want to raise money for Ataxia UK again. I want to raise the money for the charity, but also to show Cassie that people do care. I want her to know that everyone is supportive of her and that everyone has the same strength and hope of a treatment or cure as she does.

So this year's challenge will be on Saturday 5th April when I will paddleboard the length of Loch Lomond. I'll paddleboard the full 23 miles from Balloch to Ardlui, then cycle 70 miles from Ardlui back to Balloch via Callander. The paddleboarding I suspect will take me 9 hours non-stop, and the cycle approximately 8 hours non-stop. I hope you will support Cassie ❤️