This summer supporters Vivienne & Alec Armitage along with a team of family and friends including their daughter and son in law Rosie and Peter Ward were due to take on the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats cycle challenge in support of Cure Parkinson’s. As the fun video above shows the group were determined to still raise awareness and funds during the lockdown period and on the 24 May took their challenge ‘virtual’ by cycling or walking the equivalent 938 mile distance around their local areas. 

Sara along with her husband Bob took part in this brilliant challenge and were the first to conquer the virtual cycle. Sara shares her story here.  

We have made it! We were the first team to arrive (virtually) at John O’Groats on Monday 1 June 2020 after a team effort of 938 miles.

I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 9 years ago and 2 years later with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Virtual cycling with my team has been amazing, all with so many strengths, and all cycling for the same cause ‘Cure Parkinson’s.’ Bob and myself were acting as one member of the team. This meant that on the occasional day when I physically could not ride much, Bob did the Mileage. Most days however we rode together. 

Once the ‘brakes were off’, on Sunday, our Team ‘The Chain Gang’ were able to do whatever mileage we liked. There was no stopping us. Between all 5 of us we covered 350 miles in two days. Personally, it has been a huge challenge for me, cycling with Parkinson’s alongside (as an unwanted passenger). On the last day Bob and myself did 38.5 miles, getting up and on the road by 6am. This was the furthest I have ever cycled. I cannot say it was easy and I could not have done it without my electric bike or my husband along side watching out for me, nor could I have done this last year before I had Deep Brain Stimulation to help with my Parkinson’s. I can say it was beautiful, exciting and it definitely pushed me to my absolute limits. We set off from home through the Cotswold countryside, the sun was just up across the fields and the sheep and cows watched as we passed. But I was not alone and the energy from my Team fuelled me on. Our daily messages of encouragement, updating each other, photos of picnic spots, were so important. We got home later that morning and cooked a huge and well earned breakfast. 

Thank you all who have donated and supported us on this ride. Your donations are going to help so many of us living with Parkinson’s.

Cure Parkinson’s would like to take this opportunity to say a huge well done and thank you to Sara, Bob, Vivienne, Alec and everyone else who took part in this huge challenge raising over £2,800 for Parkinson’s research – such an incredible achievement!

If you would like to support Sara and team’s fundraising please visit their fundraising page. If you feel inspired and would like to take on your own cycle challenge in support of Cure Parkinson’s we’d love to hear from you – please contact Jess.

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