Cycling for CMT UK

Hi, I am going to be cycling 55 miles in aid of the charity CMT United Kingdom. This charity offers help and support to people living with the incurable neurological condition Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

This is something that is very close to my heart as my wife, son and brother-in-law have the condition, along with there being a 50% chance of my unborn daughter inheriting it.

CMT is often unheard of, yet affects 1 in every 2500 people. I would like to raise not only money but also some much needed awareness of this condition.

What is CMT and what are its effects? Here are the simple basics...

• A condition that affects the nerves in the arms and legs
• The damaged nerves cannot tell the muscles what to do which leads to muscle wastage
• Is not life threatening
• Is progressive and so gets worse over time
• Causes foot drop whereby the person cannot lift the foot up, resulting in trips and falls
• Causes an abnormal walking gait
• Causes foot bone abnormalities such as:
  -high arches, resulting in instability
  -hammer toes. toes curl under causing pain and
  difficulty putting on shoes and risks of tripping
  over the toes
  -inward facing feet causing the person to
  regularly twist their ankle when standing/walking
• Problems with hand function and dexterity, making
  doing up buttons and opening jars extremely
  difficult/impossible
• Balance problems
• Long term pain
• Cramping in legs and arms
• Loss of normal reflexes
• Chronic tiredness
• Legs can have an inverted champagne bottle shape
  where the lower legs are very thin whilst the upper
  leg remains a normal size
• Poor circulation
• Possible tremors
• Difficulty stepping up steps and climbing stairs

As the disease progresses, the need for aids such as splints, walking sticks and wheelchairs are often needed. Adaptations are also often needed for the home.

Please support me in this fundraising effort so that this fantastic charity can continue to provide the much needed help, care and support to every individual affected by CMT.

One day, with your help, hopefully a cure will be found.

THANK YOU!