Teams, Good Causes and Outstanding Individuals

By John Anderson

I start my first blog for a good reason. I am keeping Alison company. Despite having covered 115km today into a headwind, she has decided to stay in tonight to catch up on things! She is undoubtedly an outstanding individual. She has energised, planned then organised a fantastic challenge to cycle from Brighton to Barcelona. If that was not enough, there was the little matter of the warm-up from Cheltenham to Brighton. We are Day 5 in France, but Alison has been cycling for 9 consecutive days now.

We are heading to the World Congress for Parkinson’s Disease in Barcelona. Alison is an ambassador for the conference and this was her way of stimulating interest in the condition and the conference. To help we have a group formed from Norway, USA, Canada, Australia and the UK. We have evolved from individuals and small groups into a great team.

A few highlights for me: 

The cycling is magnificent. Good weather so far (thunderstorms expected tomorrow). Some beautiful scenery and fantastic architecture. Life is the produce of experiences and people. There is no doubt this is a fantastic experience. What makes it so good are the people (and a nice bike of course).

The support team for Alison en route to Brighton. Julie Mann, Sheena Yerburgh, Julia Woods and Geoff Constable (who is both Australian and also an ambassador (and a great guy) – fair to say he came a long way to do this) forged a magnificent unit to ensure delivery of the riders in Brighton was achieved on time. Along the way there were long days, high hills, loads of goodies and much fun. Thank you all for taking care of my wife and making the start so positive.

Roland Valori is both a colleague and great friend who accompanied me from Cheltenham to Brighton, ensuring  I was safe after a rather untimely altercation with a car only 2 days before we set off. Dealing with a significant family issue himself, he remained positive, caring and supportive throughout. I have appreciated our time to put the world right over a pint as well as the ride – we just need to the ear of a few influential people to make things happen now!

The support team of the ride have been organised, helpful and tolerant. Many thanks to this team of Steve and Paul from Global Bike Adventures, for ensuring we will get to Barcelona whatever happens.

We are an eclectic group, but full of humour, wisdom and character. We also have a VIP after Gary Shaughnessy was deservedly awarded a CBE in the honours list for his ongoing support and services to business and charities. He is a lovely understated individual, who can ride and talk, and it is a pleasure to spend time with him. It will be no surprise to anyone who knows him that he moves from one challenge to another and is with us after recently cycling from Liverpool to Ukraine. No cycling in between but he did do a half marathon – respect and an honour so well deserved.

Steve Iseman is another outstanding individual. Doing many of the things Alison does in the UK but based in Canada. He has left his family behind to join our adventure and I am so pleased he did. A humorous and intellectual individual, he is a pleasure to ride with.

A significant number of the group riding have Parkinson’s disease. These people are inspiring, committed and frankly unbelievable. Many will be up early, miss breakfast and set off. They want to cover distance early not to finish too late or hold up the group. They face the same issues of mechanical failures, punctures and headwinds as the rest of us. For them, each challenge is simply a more challenging one. They are truly an incredible team of people. 

My old friends and some new ones form the rest, who are raising money for the cause but crucially supporting the rest of our team. I have not yet got to know them all well yet, but I am sure I will over the next few days. The challenge is an opportunity to forge new friendships, consolidate those already established and enjoy a magnificent adventure, which forms new memories which will last long after the legs have stopped aching. Thank you  all you outstanding bunch of individuals for making such a great team.

(Written on 18th June)