'I'm humbled': Man with Parkinson's defies the odds by completing major charity cycle challenge
A man with a neurological disorder has completed a major charity cycling challenge
After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s three years ago, an inspirational man has defied the odds by cycling from Hampshire to East Sussex to raise money for charity.
Mark Farrow has cycled the South Downs Way route, stretching between Winchester and Eastbourne, to raise funds for Cure Parkinson’s.
The Havant man, who was diagnosed with the progressive neurological disorder that affects movement, completed the 99 mile route on Sunday, May 3, with friends joining him for multiple legs of the ride.
The challenge, which is primarily off-road along bridleways, is usually completed over a number of days but Mark wanted to push himself to the limit by completing it in a day.
The keen cyclist set off from Winchester at 5am and successfully finished the journey 13 hours later, raising £6,747 and surpassing his original goal of £5,000.
Mark said: “I’ve wanted to raise funds for Cure Parkinson's since being diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2023. The condition affects people differently, and what better way to raise awareness and money than by doing something that I love. Plus my friends, family and work are being so supportive that it spurs me on.
“I feel quite humbled by everyone that has donated money to my cause and feel I must thank them for their donations by keeping active.”
Cure Parkinson’s was established in 2005 by Tom Isaacs, Sir Richard Nichols, Air Vice Marshal Michael Dicken and Sir David Jones due to growing frustrations at the lack of treatment research and awareness. Over the past 20 years, the charity has directly committed more than £25 million of funding for over 80 research projects, made scientific discoveries and opened new avenues of research.
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As of March 2024, the charity awarded funding for research in 38 institutions across 11 countries to 56 individual Principal Investigators.
The money Mark has raised will go towards funding research projects in a bid to find a cure for the disease that impacts approximately 166,000 people across the UK.
Helen Matthews, CEO of Cure Parkinson’s, said:“Fundraising support is absolutely critical for the charity to enable us to achieve our goal. We aim to cure Parkinson’s and the only way we will do this is through the help of all our incredible supporters like Mark – it’s as simple as that.”