Route 53 marching on MND

Picture this…

One man, one bike, one thousand miles plus…

The story, the route, and the reason…

On 26th April this year, Peter Delaney, 64, a Beverley Rotarian and former rugby player, sets off on an epic 5-week quest as a lone cyclist, to cycle from Land’s End to John O ’Groats. You may say “What makes a man want to do such an epic journey?” The answer is simple – The love of an amazing woman, who was tragically taken by Motor Neurone Disease.

His love for his wife, Maureen started off quite rocky. They met in 1984 but dates were few as she was ‘busy’ every night for 3 months! Then followed a 9-year courtship, and finally after turning down several proposals they eventually married in 1993 and Peter spent the next twenty-nine, happy years with his love. Until MND tragically intervened.

One day, Maureen said ‘Do I sound ok?’ This was to be the start of an unforgiving journey of hope and endurance in her battle against Motor Neurone Disease.

Peters describes their journey together:
“Maureen’s voice slowly deteriorated and initially COVID disrupted any access to people who could help us. The only way we could get help was by paying for medical investigations until eventually MND was diagnosed. We paid again to get a second opinion, but the answer was the same. Every week, every day, every hour Maureen slowly deteriorated, and the symptoms worsened. She lost the ability to speak, walk, eat, or drink. Wheelchairs and house conversions were the only way we could function. Life together moved to the converted downstairs dining room.

All through Maureen’s journey I loved her and cared for her. Often, I ate alone and out of sight, to spare her the sight of me doing things she could not. I was angry and resentful that this disease was taking away our life together, I couldn’t read up on MND as it hurt too much and there are so many variations, I couldn’t be certain I was reading the right information anyway, all I wanted to do was to protect Maureen while I could.

Despite her illness, Maureen still took charge, she wore the boots in our relationship, she tried to protect me, she planned her own funeral and in her own way she still carried out a support role, looking out for others in our community. An amazing woman.

Eventually, the doctors couldn’t keep up with the changing conditions and Maureen was admitted into Dove House Hospice for special care. Throughout the whole MND journey, the medical staff we met were amazing, they could not be faulted and couldn’t do too much for us. After fighting valiantly for two short years, Maureen lost the battle, and I lost the love of my life.

Having been touched by MND it became my passion to follow through Maureen’s legacy. Maureen would want me to go into battle against this debilitating and deathly disease. So I came up with the idea of using my skills as a cyclist to do what is known as the LEJOG journey (Land’s End to John O’Groats)  and raise some funds to help the MND Cure Finders.

I would like to invite you, as Rotarians, rugby followers and members of the public, to share my passion and, by donating, help the MND Cure Finders speed up the research, so that, in the future, others do not have to lose people they love"

Peter H Delaney