I absolutely loved RideLondon last time, there is such a buzz about the event, and after a year out I’m ready to take on the challenge again for Sophie.
Tony’s niece and goddaughter, Sophie, was born with the very rare muscle-wasting condition, Ullrich muscular dystrophy. There are less than 300 children who have been diagnosed.
To date, Sophie has undergone 8 different operations with more in the future. There is currently no cure for Sophie’s condition but there is hope. There are plans for a clinical trial of a new drug and lots of effort is being put in to understand more about the type of MD that Sophie has. That is why I’m taking part in RideLondon.
Tony was one of MDUK’s top fundraisers in 2016, raising an incredible £1140, more than double the target.
I achieved this through the persistence of chasing people. On Facebook, personal WhatsApp messages, sending round work emails, getting Sophie’s story out there. This helped to not only get donations from people who know Sophie, but also others who didn’t and wanted to help.
Tony is about to start a new job and the time off between has given him time to get some extra training in and follow people up for sponsorship.
I think Sophie is actually more excited about me starting my new job than me! My new job is for GoHenry, a child’s pocket money card that she has and loves!
Tony’s tips for the rest of #TeamOrange taking on this year’s challenge is to:
Look out for little towns and villages whilst cycling through Surrey. The cheers really give you a boost for another few miles.
Travel light! I took a backpack full of gels and food, but didn’t really end up using any of it. There are plenty of food and water stations along the way to top up if you need to. Do, however, try and carry as much water as you can and keep hydrated.
To sponsor Tony and to find out more about Sophie, please head to Tony’s online fundraising page.