The parents of an 11-year old- boy with a muscle-wasting condition have launched the Duchenne Research Relay, a 380-mile cycle ride between the UK’s leading neuromuscular centres, to raise funds for Muscular Dystrophy UK.
Will Taylor was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy when he was four years old.
The Duchenne Research Relay this month, which will help fund research into treatments and cures for the muscle-wasting condition, is the latest challenge by this family and their team, which has already raised over £100,000 for Muscular Dystrophy UK .
In 2015 the family did their first bike ride, cycling from John O’Groats to Land’s End, raising over £25,000. In 2017, they rode, swam and ran from coast to coast, east to west across the UK, raising £57,000 and in 2019, they ran the‘Longest, Steepest, Highest Quadrathlon, and donated £39,040.
Now Sam and Sue Taylor, of Milnthorpe and a team of about 17 friends have planned the Duchenne Research Relay.
Teams will cycle in COVID-safe teams of six during 12-13 hour days from August 12.
They will cycle from Great Ormond Street Hospital to the Centre for Life in Newcastle, stopping off at the MDUK Neuromuscular Centre at Oxford University, Bromsgrove, Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool and Preston in three days.
Sam said: “This is a huge, huge challenge in anyone’s book. But it is very achievable in a group, with everyone on road bikes. It would be very difficult on mountain bikes. We should have the wind behind us this time!”
One of the cyclists is Scott Mitchell, 43, of Kendal. His son, Alex, was diagnosed with Becker Muscular Dystrophy six years ago.
Scott said: “Alex was diagnosed aged 14 with Becker MD after years of taking him to the doctors, and battling to get the correct diagnosis. I am taking part to raise money to fund research and support for those suffering Muscular Dystrophy, and their families. It makes a world of difference.”
Scott said: “Alex is an amazing young man and my inspiration. He just gets on with it, despite his condition.
“As well as being a bright spark, he is an insanely talented pianist who was classically trained by a friend’s mother. He’s performed at a few venues for people, and in 2018 played at Hexham Abbey in a concert for MDUK.
“MDUK were extremely helpful and supportive during not only the time that Alex was diagnosed with Becker, but thereafter, when we were trying to work out what needs we had, what support we could receive and providing a reassuring experiences and guidance as to various aspects of day-to-day life that we would need to address.”
