Birmingham cyclists complete 165-mile ride for Parkinson’s UK

Andy Cross and David Poole, both amateur cyclists from Birmingham in their 50s who work together at company HS2 Ltd, were inspired to take on the challenge after seeing first hand how Parkinson’s has affected one of their colleagues and his wife who has been diagnosed with the condition.

The pair reached London on Saturday evening, having spent 20 hours in the saddle over two days, travelling 165-miles all the way along the Grand Union Canal from Birmingham.

They began at the site where HS2 is building Birmingham’s new city centre station and on the original site of the city’s first Victorian railways station.

The pair followed the canal through Warwick, Leamington, Northampton and Milton Keynes before arriving at Euston – the site of HS2’s London terminus.

Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, and currently there is no cure. It affects around 145,000 people in the UK, including more than 12,000 in the West Midlands.

Andy said: “We’re delighted to have completed this charity cycle for Parkinson’s UK, having seen the impact the condition can have on not just the person living with Parkinson’s, but their family members too.

Exhilarating

"We’ve received so much support from everyone for which we’re really grateful. It was an exhilarating experience and we’re so happy to have raised awareness of the condition and raised a huge amount for Parkinson’s UK.

“We took this cycle challenge on as people across the UK living with Parkinson’s have been impacted by the pandemic. The charity is doing an incredible job of supporting people with Parkinson’s and their families and working fast to find better treatments and a cure for the condition.”

Parkinson’s UK is the largest charitable funder of Parkinson’s research in Europe, leading the way in driving better care, treatments and quality of life for those with the condition.

Katherine Bartrop, head of regional fundraising at Parkinson’s UK, said: “We’d like to congratulate Andy and David for completing the incredible challenge of cycling from Birmingham to London, to raise money for Parkinson’s UK.

“Nobody should have to face Parkinson’s alone - or without hope that one day we’ll find better treatments and a cure.

“That’s why we’re so grateful for the continued support from our amazing fundraisers like Andy and David, whose fundraising efforts during this difficult time help us keep our vital support services and research programmes going. Without their support, nothing we do would be possible.”

To sponsor Andy and David, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/andy-cross-and-david-poole