Author: Gerard

Two club members called Theresa Leavy and Emma Killen, along with 2 other family members have signed up to cycle from London to Amsterdam on 6th June 2018 for MS Trust. The following was written by Theresa….

Until February of this year I was not a cyclist! I did not own a helmet or bike in over 25 years, and had a very poor level of fitness. I would never have thought i would ‘enjoy’ cycling, I was merely doing it because training plan provided by the organisers said I had to do X amount of miles on a certain night…… but, after seeing a Facebook post advertising Crossgar Cycle Clubd development run, on 2nd April I attended my first club run I now have the ‘bug!’. Below are my reasons for commiting to such a challenging fundraiser. My daughter Melissa was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis almost 6 years ago at age of 12. She was one of only 2 children in Northern Ireland being treated by RVH Children’s hospital for MS at the time. The first 18 months were horrendous with 6 relapses. Symptoms including limping, trailing her leg, falling, broken foot, vision problems, numbness in face and mouth, numerous infections, constant headaches and daily fatigue. 12 months ago Melissa suffered an acute relapse, and deteriorated over 8 weeks to the point where she could not cut her food, was unable to walk or stand unaided, was using a wheelchair and was ultimately admitted to hospital for 3 weeks for intense physio and steroids. Since diagnosis Melissa has missed over 350 days of school, had to repeat year 11 and was unable to sit any GCSE exams because of Multiple Sclerosis. Melissa is on her 3rd disease modifying drug as the first was ineffective at keeping relapses at bay and the second had an increased risk of brain damage or death. The third treatment is successful at keeping her well at the minute and she is currently at college studying Travel and Tourism. To date, prior to signing up for the cycle, along with friends and family, have raised over £18,000 for MS Charities by holding coffee mornings, taking part in a Zip Wire across Lagan, Belfast Marathon Relay team, Fright Night, Abseil, held pamper evenings, Hawaiian themed evening, had a Big Breakfast and Car Wash and a Firewalk. We hope to raise £7,000 for the cycle London to Amsterdam….fundraising has included car boot sale, Ladies Night, Coffee morning, Gents Leg Waxing, Raffles, wine and cheese evening, and the sheer generosity of the local community, local businesses and friends/family members who see Melissa’s daily struggles. We are proactive in raising awareness and fundraising. I am Vice Chair of MS Society NI Council and volunteer regularly at fundraising events, participate at family and carers events and campaign at Stormont for better services and access to treatments for sufferers. Melissa and I are keen to increase awareness of this invisible condition and have spoken on BBC Radio Ulster, Radio Foyle about what is like being diagniesd with a critical illness a such a young age. Melissa and I have appeared in local newspapers, Mourne Observer, Down recorder and have been interviewed by national paper The Sun online also Melissa wants a cure by the time she is 35. We can’t take this awful disease away from Melissa – but we can Fundraise and raise awareness. FACTS ABOUT MS MS is one of the most common disabling neurological conditions in the UK. There are 4,500 people in NI with MS. NI has the second highest incidence of MS (per head of population) in the world. Women are twice as likely to develop MS. MS stays with the person for life. There is no cure…YET!!!! I have found Crossgar Cycling Club to be not only friendly and encouraging but the guys also challenge and push me that little bit more which has brought my training for upcoming event of just under 400 miles over 4 days on 10 fold.  I am now a club member and love a Sunday morning run with a coffee stop – sun, rain or hail – literally!!

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=TeamMelissa&isTeam=true