A BUCKIE dad is getting ready to cycle almost 1000 miles to raise cash for and awareness of his daughter’s rare neurological condition.
Picture: Eric Cormack. Image No. (041190).
KEVIN ADDISON FROM BUCKIE PREPARING TO CYCLE FROM LANDS END TO JOHN O’GROATS CHARITY BIKE RIDE.
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September 8 will see offshore worker Kevin Addison (40) saddle up at Lands End as part of the Deloitte Ride Across Britain, which will take him and his 800 fellow riders 969 miles over nine days before finishing in John o’ Groats on September 16.
The inspiration for this mammoth endeavour is none other than his 20-month-old daughter Demi, who suffers from a rare condition known as hemiplegia, a type of cerebral palsy which has left her partially paralysed down her left hand side. One of only three under-fives with the condition in Moray,
Set to benefit from Kevin’s determination is the charity HemiHelp, the only body of its kind operating in the UK.
Kevin told the Advertiser: “HemiHelp were brilliant with me and my wife Erin when demi was first diagnosed, they put us in touch with other families whose kids had the condition and it was a big help for us
“HemiHelp rely solely on public donations, they get no money from the government so myself and Erin thought it would be a good idea to raise both some funds for and awareness of the charity.”
A keen cyclist, Kevin decided he wanted to do “something as extreme as I could” with the sport, his internet research eventually leading him to the Deloitte Ride Across Britain, the relatively compact timescale for the event being a major attraction. This, however, will come with its very own demanding flip side.
“One of the biggest challenges is going to be doing around 100 miles a day for nine straight days,” he explained.
“It’s fine doing that for one day but for nine is an entirely different challenge and it’s something I’m working on in training. “Another physical challenge will be the amount of climbing we’ll have to do – over the course of the ride we’ll be ascending a distance equivalent to twice the height of Everest. There’ll be a mental challenge, too, such as coping with fatigue, bad weather and so on.”
Kevin’s initial funding target of £3000 has already been achieved and his employers have weighed in with the offer of a significant contribution to the campaign.
To donate to Kevin’s campaign, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kevin-addison1
Caption: Kevin Addison is training hard for his 969-mike bike ride.
Piture: Eric Cormack SPP.