Saturday 22 July 2017

Cycling4Dementia - raising dementia awareness, on two wheels

On 10 September, I, along with a good friend and former neighbour, Allan Lind, will be embarking on a 350 mile bike ride, in support of dementia charities, and to raise dementia awareness.

Why?

Over the past five years, I've been a full-time carer for my Mum who was officially diagnosed with vascular dementia, in 2011 - although she had been showing the signs of the disease, for a number of years before that. From late 2012, she became totally bed bound, and fully dependent on others, for all her daily needs. For me, it was a 24/7/365 role.

Sadly, Mum lost her dementia battle on 6 March this year.

In the first few weeks following her death, I felt lost and alone. I was grieving - not just because of the loss of someone very close to me, who I loved dearly, but also the loss of the daily routine I'd grown used to, over five long years, and more.

During those years of caring for Mum, I'd been active on Twitter - Tweeting and taking part in Twitter chats about dementia. I'd also set up a blog about design for dementia, as well as a small forum for fellow family carers (or caregivers to our American friends), and former carers.

I still take part in Twitter chats, and I still run my small forum - but I now needed something else. Something to occupy the time, I'd once spent, caring for Mum.

A late night chat with Allan, resulted in the idea of the bike ride - in memory of Mum.

This was to prove to be the very tonic I needed.

Where from? And where to?

As the ride is to be in memory of Mum, it made complete sense to start from somewhere near where she had last lived. And to finish, somewhere near a place, she had once lived and worked.

So that was it - from Southwick in West Sussex, to St Austell in Cornwall.

Southwick, West Sussex


Southwick is just a few miles from Lancing, where Mum last lived, and Southwick Christian Community Church is where we'll be setting off from. The Church and its Pastor (Lynda Hulcoop - who performed the service at Mum's Celebration of Life), have, in many ways, been enthusiatic supporters, of our venture.

St Austell, Cornwall


St Austell is a place where Mum, along with Dad (who we lost to cancer in 1994) and I, lived for a number of years, during the 1970s and 1980s, after Dad had left the Army. Mum worked for English China Clays (now Imerys), as PA to the marketing director, at their former HQ, John Keay House (now Cornwall College). John Keay House, is where the ride will finish.

Planning the route

Following the National Cycle Network to Cornwall


The majority of the route will follow parts of the National Cycle Network (NCN). Some parts will be on minor roads, with light traffic, whilst other parts will be on paths, tracks and trails, with no traffic. As a result, the planned route, is hardly direct. It meanders through the countryside, and along parts of the coast of southern England, sometimes passing through villages, towns, and cities.

New Forest National Park


Overnight stops will mainly be at campsites near the route, and we may be stopping off, for one night, at a forum friend's house, in Somerset.

The major towns and cities include: Worthing, Littlehampton, Bognor Regis, Chichester, Portsmouth, Southampton, Christchurch, Bournemouth, Dorchester, Taunton, Barnstaple, Bideford, Bodmin, and finally St Austell.

Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth


We'll be starting near the South Downs National Park, passing through the New Forest, and Exmoor, National Parks, close to the edge of Bodmin Moor, and right next to the Eden Project.

For beer aficionados, the end of the route also passes close to St Austell's well known, independently family owned, brewery. My old school, is right next door to it!

St Austell Brewery


Planning everything else

The last few months, since deciding to undertake such a challenge, have been filled with researching and selecting the various "bits of kit", we'll need for the ride.



As we'll be totally unsupported, we'll need to carry everything we need, in backpacks and/or in pannier bags, on the bikes. We'll need to be prepared for whatever the British weather decides to throw at us, as well as carrying essential food, water, clothing and shelter.

Training

Such a distance shouldn't really be attempted, without a certain amount of training. So, for the last few months, we've been on numerous bike rides, in and around the local area. Gradually increasing the distance, and difficulty, of the rides. Taking in some interesting, and challenging, hills, and riding, head on, into strong westerly winds. The winds we are most likely to encounter, on our east to west route.

But, cycling alone, is not enough. Various other strength and cardio exercises, are needed too! More of this, will be included in a later post.

Staying connected

In our modern world, we'll be expected to keep everyone updated about our progress during the ride. After all, if it's possible from the International Space Station, what excuse do we have? So, we'll try to keep in touch, and post daily feeds and updates.



I've covered much of this in an earlier post here. And, it is my intention, wherever possible, to post frequent updates, here, as well as Facebook and Twitter (links are provided at the bottom of this page).



After the ride, I also intend to produce a YouTube video, and an online album of photos taken along the way.

Media coverage



I'm still working on this one. We've had some interest - with an article published in a local newspaper. The biannual magazine, published by Mum's company pension scheme (Imerys UK Pensions), is also interested. However, that's it, at the moment.

I've contacted some media outlets, to no avail, but there are still plenty more - and once one is interested, maybe we can get more on board - only time will tell. If that fails, we'll just storm the BBC studios in Southampton, when we pass through! Only kidding!

Besides, the power of the internet gives us much more coverage, than many major media outlets, so it's no big issue.

Raising funds and awareness

We'll be wearing both Alzheimer's Society and Dementia UK cycling jerseys, whilst on the ride, as well as carrying and displaying banners, whenever we stop.

Wherever we can, we'll chat to people, and explain whatever we can about dementia, its effects on those living with it, and their families. As well as what can be done to help those living with dementia, have a life that is as normal, happy, comfortable and secure, as possible.

Wrist Bands


I also have quite a few "I'm Dementia Aware" wrist bands, which we'll be selling - at £3 each - the proceeds of which will be going to the charities, and I've set up two JustGiving pages, at the following links:



Alzheimer's Society page - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/martyn-feather-as or text ASDP84 £2 to 70070 (if you wish to donate more just enter a different figure after the £ sign - e.g. £5)




Dementia UK page - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/martyn-feather-duk or text BIJJ81 £2 to 70070  (if you wish to donate more just enter a different figure after the £ sign - e.g. £5)

Other links

@inmemoryofmymum can be found on both Facebook and Twitter, so you can follow the ride there too. You can also find me on Facebook - Martyn Feather (Skippy), and Twitter - @ZkidooKreativ

© Martyn Feather 2017

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